Small Molecule Agonists and Antagonists of NR2F6 Activity in Humans

ABSTRACT

The present technology is directed to modulators of nuclear receptor activity, specifically to the modulation of NR2F6 activity and NR2F6 utilizing compounds, and the immune modulation and modulation of cancer stem cell activity through administration of compounds described herein to humans.

BACKGROUND

The present technology relates to agonists and antagonists of nuclear receptor activity, specifically to the modulation of NR2F6 activity and NR2F6 utilizing compounds, and the immune modulation and modulation of cancer stem cell activity through administration of compounds described herein.

Many drugs administered to treat diseases or conditions are targeted against differences between a diseased cell and a normal cell. T cells of the immune system are known to recognize and interact with specific molecules through receptors (e.g., a T cell receptor in complex with a CD3 dimer) which, upon recognition or interaction with these molecules, result in the activation of the T cell to perform various immune activities. Innate immune cells are cells of the immune system that are known to be activated by one or more agents (e.g., allergens, chemicals produced upon injury (e.g., opioids and alcohols), polymyxins, crosslinked IgE, crosslinked complement proteins, cytokines produced by T cells or other immune cells (e.g., interferon-γ), DAMPs, or PAMPs) that activate downstream signaling pathway(s) in the innate immune cell and result in the activation of one or more immune activities of the innate immune cell.

Both T cells and innate immune cells play a role in a mammal's immune defense. For example, the immune activities of an innate immune cell can protect a mammal against infectious diseases. The immune activities of a T cell can protect a mammal against, for example, infectious diseases and cancer.

Adoptive cell therapy is a method of treatment that includes harvesting one or more different types of immune cells from a mammal, culturing and/or manipulating the harvested immune cells ex vivo, and administering the cultured and/or manipulated immune cells back to the mammal. The manipulating of a harvested immune cell ex vivo can include introducing a recombinant nucleic acid into the immune cell.

Molecularly targeted therapeutics represent a new approach to discovering anti-cancer drugs. Using this approach, small molecules are designed to inhibit directly the very oncogenetic proteins that are mutated or overexpressed in specific tumor cell types. By targeting specific molecular defects or conditions found within tumor cells, this approach can yield therapies tailored to each tumor's genetic makeup. A complementary strategy involves searching for genotype-selective anti-tumor agents that become lethal to tumor cells only in the presence of specific oncoproteins or only in the absence of specific tumor oppressors. Such genotype-selective compounds might target oncoproteins directly, or target other critical proteins involved in oncoprotein-linked signaling networks.

The immune system is comprised of activatory and inhibitory mechanisms that can allow for control of immune responses and subsequent inhibition of responses after clearance of the immune target. The central event stimulating immune responses is the antigen-specific activation of naive CD4⁺ T cells subsequent to binding antigen presenting cell MHC containing antigenic peptide. The CD4⁺ T cell, also known as the “helper T cell,” helps to coordinate the activation of the adaptive immune response, playing a role in the stimulation of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, whose role includes destroying host cells affected by cancer, viruses, and intracellular bacteria, as well as stimulating B cell maturation to eventual plasma cell differentiation. Antibodies can be critical molecules in clearance of extracellular pathogens such as various bacteria and parasites.

Under many circumstances, naive CD4⁺ T cells require two distinct signals to proliferate and differentiate into the armed effector cells that mediate adaptive immunity. Signal 1 of this two-signal model is antigen-specific and is generated by interaction of the TCR with antigenic peptide presented in context with MHC II antigens. This results in transduction of TCR intracellular signals leading to production of IL-2 and T cell activation. Signal 2 is referred to as a “costimulatory” signal because, while essential, it does not necessarily induce any functional response in T cells.

The best characterized costimulatory signal 2 is generated through the T cell surface molecule CD28. CD28 delivers a costimulatory signal upon interaction with CD80 or CD86 present on B cells, macrophages, or dendritic cells. Activation of the TCR in the presence of costimulatory signals leads to T cell clonal expansion and initiation of effector functions such as IL-2 production.

For cancer, immune inhibitory mechanisms, termed “immune checkpoints,” are prematurely activated in order for the tumor to escape immune attack. Two immune checkpoints exist: a) CTLA-4, which sends an inhibitory signal to T cells upon binding CD80 or CD86 on antigen presenting cells; and b) PD-1, which binds to PD-1 ligand on tumor cells, stromal cells, or antigen presenting cells.

CTLA-4 is related to CD28, however instead of activating T cells in a co-stimulatory manner, it leads to inhibition or co-inhibition of T cells.

Nuclear receptor subfamily 2, group F, member 6 (NR2F6), also known as nuclear orphan receptor Ear2, is an orphan member of the nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily of ligand-activated receptors, which exhibit a common modular structure and are involved in various homeostatic functions, but also play a role in oncogenesis and cancer propagation. Specifically, studies have shown that members of the NR family regulate development, reproduction, and metabolism of lipids, drugs and energy. The importance of this family of proteins in metabolic disease is exemplified by NR ligands used in the clinic or under exploratory development for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, or other metabolic abnormalities.

Genetic studies in humans and rodents support the notion that NRs control a wide variety of metabolic processes by regulating the expression of genes encoding key enzymes, transporters and other proteins involved in metabolic homeostasis. Genomic sequence availability has led to the identification of 48 NRs encoded by the human genome and 49 NRs encoded by the mouse genome.

The present disclosure is directed to, in certain embodiments, methods of using small molecule compounds as immune modulators; as well as to compounds, solid forms and compositions thereof that are immune modulators and that exhibit desirable characteristics thereof; as well as to methods of making the compounds, solid forms and composition thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

In certain embodiments, the present technology is directed compounds discussed and described herein, which compounds have been found to modulate the immune system. These compounds can include any of the following:

In various embodiments, in any of the above, moieties R, RA, RB, R1-R8, X, Q, Q1, Q2, A can be any of the following: C, H, N, O, S, a halogen, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, a cyclic alkyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an ester, an aldehyde, a ketone, a carboxylic acid, an amide, an amine, an ether, a thiol or a nitrile. In various embodiments, in any of the above, n can be an integer 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.

In various embodiments, any of R, RA, RB, R1-R8, X, Q, Q1, Q2, or A can be any of the following: Me, OMe, Br, N, H, Cl, F or NO₂. In certain embodiments, any of R, RA, RB, R1-R8, X, Q, Q1, Q2, or A can be any of the following: 4-Me, 4-OMe, 4-Br, 4-t-Bu, 3,4-di-Me, 4-Cl, 3,4-di-Cl, 3-Cl-4-F, 2-F, 3-Cl, 3-CH₃-4-F, a thiazole, an isothiazole or a dithiolane.

In various embodiments, any of R1 and R2 can have the values shown in any of the Figures, for example, FIGS. 1A-1F, FIGS. 3A-3F, FIGS. 4A-4L, FIGS. 5A and 5B, FIGS. 6A-6F, FIGS. 7A-7O, FIGS. 8A-8M, FIGS. 9A-9J, FIGS. 10A-10J or FIGS. 11A-11G.

In certain embodiments, the present technology is directed to a novel compound, any solid form thereof, and any formulation or composition thereof, that is useful as agonists or antagonists of nuclear receptor activity, specifically to the modulation of NR2F6 activity and NR2F6 utilizing compounds.

In certain embodiments, the present technology is directed to methods of modulating the immune system or modulating cancer cell activity using compounds that alter activity of NR2F6.

In certain embodiments, the present technology is directed to methods of “reprogramming” the immune cells in a patient to attack tumors or other invasive cells. Such “reprogramming” can include: (a) extraction of an amount of a patient's cellular material (including, but not limited to: blood, which itself includes blood serum, plasma red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets), (b) isolating specific immune cells from the cellular material; (c) inhibiting or activating the NR2F6 target in the extracted immune cells; and (d) re-administering the immune cells (for example, by injection) to the patient's body.

In certain embodiments, the present technology is directed to methods treating or reducing the effect of an autoimmune response, reaction, disease or disorder, the method comprising any of the steps discussed herein, or activating the NR2F6 target in isolated immune cells by binding them with a compound according to the present technology.

In certain embodiments, the present technology is directed to methods of shrinking a tumor, increasing or decreasing activity of a cell, initiating or inducing an immune response, destroying a cancer cell, reducing the effect of a disease, alleviating a symptom of a disease, as well as methods of inducing a cell in a patient's body to do any of these, the method comprising administering a compound herein to a tumor, contacting a compound herein with a cell, or any other steps discussed herein.

In certain embodiments, the present technology is directed to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound described herein, with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

The methods herein can, in various embodiments, involve humans or non-human mammals as subjects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1F show certain compounds that have been found to be effective for the purposes of the present technology.

FIG. 2A shows a certain compound that has been found to be effective for the purposes of the present technology. FIG. 2B shows different domains, or portions of a base compound, that were substituted with different moieties to ascertain whether these made a difference in the activity of such compound.

FIG. 3A shows a certain compound that has been found to be effective for the purposes of the present technology. FIGS. 3B-3F show various additional compounds formed from substitution of different moieties.

FIGS. 4A-4L show additional compounds that were found to be useful in accordance with the embodiments herein.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show additional embodiments of compounds, along with (in the case of FIG. 5A) different values of moieties R1 and R2.

FIGS. 6A-6F show additional compounds that were found to be useful in accordance with the embodiments herein.

FIGS. 7A-7O show additional compounds that were found to be useful in accordance with the embodiments herein.

FIGS. 8A-8M show additional compounds that were found to be useful in accordance with the embodiments herein.

FIGS. 9A-9J show additional compounds that were found to be useful in accordance with the embodiments herein.

FIGS. 10A-10J show additional compounds that were found to be useful in accordance with the embodiments herein.

FIGS. 11A-11G show additional compounds that were found to be useful in accordance with the embodiments herein.

FIG. 12 shows a certain compound that has been found to be effective for the purposes of the present technology; and different domains, or portions of a base compound, that were substituted with different moieties to ascertain whether these made a difference in the activity of such compound.

FIG. 13A shows a certain compound that has been found to be effective for the purposes of the present technology. FIGS. 13B-13H show various additional compounds formed from substitution of different moieties.

FIG. 14A shows a certain compound that has been found to be effective for the purposes of the present technology. FIGS. 14B-14D show various additional compounds formed from substitution of different moieties.

FIGS. 15A-15G show additional compounds that were found to be useful in accordance with the embodiments herein

FIGS. 16A and 16B show charts of cytokines release by hPBMC and cytotox for Compound C11, which was identified as a useful compound in accordance with the embodiments herein. Results were repeated in follow set screen from fresh powder. 5 direct analogs were available (top structure in FIG. 16A).

FIGS. 17A and 17B show analogues and other related compounds to Compound C 11.

FIGS. 18A and 18B show charts of cytokines release by hPBMC and cytotox for Compound 18. For cytokines release and cytotox on hPBMCs compound was tested at 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 25 and 50 uM in duplicates. For cytotox on HEK293, HEK293 pGL4 and HEK293 NR2F6 (full length) compound was tested from 50 uM with dilution step 3.16 in duplicates. Human PBMC were activated by 10 ng/mL PMA+500 ng/mL ionomycin. Data were normalized to controls with (100%) w/o compounds.

FIGS. 19A and 19B show the results of Dog's PBMC ELISA and cytotoxicity experiments. All compounds were tested at 5, 10, 25 and 50 uM in duplicates on activated by 10 ng/mL PMA+500 ng/mL ionomycin dogs PBMC (1×106 cells/mL). Cell culture supernates were removed and frozen for further ELISA analysis and remained cells were analyzed. Compounds without cytotox were chosen for cytokine release inhibition analysis. Compound Z92 was also analyzed at 5 uM and 10 uM.

FIGS. 20A and 20B show results of cytokines release by hPBMC and cytotox for Compound Z95. For cytokines release and cytotox on hPBMCs compound was tested at 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 25 and 50 uM in duplicates. For cytotox on HEK293, HEK293 pGL4 and HEK293 NR2F6 (full length) compound was tested from 50 uM with dilution step 3.16 in duplicates. Human PBMC were activated by 10 ng/mL PMA+500 ng/mL ionomycin. Data were normalized to controls with (100%) without compounds.

FIGS. 21A-21D show human and dog results of a cytokine release experiment—parent compound for dogs and human PBMC, for Compound D28. All compounds were tested at 5, 10, 25 and 50 uM in duplicates. Dog PBMC (1×106 cells/mL) were activated by 10 ng/mL PMA+500 ng/mL ionomycin. Data were normalized to controls with (100%) without (0%) PMA+ionomycin activation.

FIGS. 22A and 22B show results of cytokines release by hPBMC and cytotox for Compound Z17. For cytokines release and cytotox on hPBMCs compound was tested at 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 25 and 50 uM in duplicates. For cytotox on HEK293, HEK293 pGL4 and HEK293 NR2F6 (full length) compound was tested from 50 uM with dilution step 3.16 in duplicates. Human PBMC were activated by 10 ng/mL PMA+500 ng/mL ionomycin. Data were normalized to controls with (100%) without compounds.

FIGS. 23A and 23B show results of cytokines release by hPBMC and cytotox for Compound Z33. For cytokines release and cytotox on hPBMCs compound was tested at 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 25 and 50 uM in duplicates. For cytotox on HEK293, HEK293 pGL4 and HEK293 NR2F6 (full length) compound was tested from 50 uM with dilution step 3.16 in duplicates. Human PBMC were activated by 10 ng/mL PMA+500 ng/mL ionomycin. Data were normalized to controls with (100%) without compounds.

FIG. 24 shows results of a cytokines release by hPBMC for Compound E56.

FIGS. 25A and 25B show results of cytokines release by hPBMC and cytotox for Compound Z96. For cytokines release and cytotox on hPBMCs compound was tested at 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 25 and 50 uM in duplicates. For cytotox on HEK293, HEK293 pGL4 and HEK293 NR2F6 (full length) compound was tested from 50 uM with dilution step 3.16 in duplicates. Human PBMC were activated by 10 ng/mL PMA+500 ng/mL ionomycin. Data were normalized to controls without (100%)compounds.

FIGS. 26A and 26B show results of cytokine release by hPBMC and cytotox for Compound Z97.

FIGS. 27A-27D show NR2F6 and LBD transient transfection, respectively, for Compound D28. FIGS. 27E and 27F show toxicity of Compound D28.

FIGS. 28A-28D show the results of a cytokine release experiment for dog and human PBMC. All compounds were tested at 5, 10, 25 and 50 uM in duplicates. Dog PBMC (1×106 cells/mL) were activated by 10 ng/mL PMA+500 ng/mL ionomycin. Data were normalized to controls with (100%)/without (0%) PMA+ionomycin activation.

FIGS. 29, 30 31A, 31B and 32 show exemplary methods of formulating the compounds that have been discussed herein.

FIGS. 33A and 33B and 34A-34D show NR2F6 and LBD transient transfection, respectively, for Compound E21.

FIGS. 35A to 35D show the results of a cytokine release experiment for dog and human PBMC, for Compound E21.

FIG. 36 shows additional compounds related to compound E21 that were tested herein.

FIG. 37 shows additional compounds that were synthesized and tested according to the present embodiments.

FIG. 38A and 38B, 39A-39D and 40A-40D show results of testing on Compound F1.

FIG. 41 shows the general SAR strategy for testing Compound F1 and compounds related to it in structure; by dividing the active molecule into four domains (Domains A through D), and evaluating each domain independently to establish SAR trends.

FIG. 42 shows an exemplary synthesis of a boronate compound, and the results of other exemplary syntheses of compounds comprising boronate, and the relative proportions of resultant compounds.

FIG. 43 shows methods of synthesis of certain compounds found to be useful for the embodiments herein.

FIGS. 44A and 44B and 45A-D show NR2F6 and LBD transient transfection, respectively, for Compound P1.

FIGS. 46A and 46B show the results of a cytokine release experiment for dog and human PBMC, for Compound P1.

FIGS. 47A and 47B show NR2F6 agonist activity of various compounds discussed herein.

FIGS. 48-51 show synthesis of various additional compounds discussed herein.

FIGS. 52A and 52B show synthesis of Compounds Z119, Z120, Z121 and Z123.

FIG. 53-55 shows synthesis of additional compounds herein.

FIGS. 56A and 56B show Nr2F6 agonist activity for various compounds discussed herein.

FIGS. 57 and 58 show synthesis of various compounds discussed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, “disease” or “disorder” are used interchangeably and mean a disorder of structure or function in any living thing (including but not limited to a human, animal, or plant), especially one that produces specific signs or symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury.

As used herein, “mammal” means a warm-blooded vertebrate animal of a class that is distinguished by the possession of hair or fur, the secretion of milk by females for the nourishment of the young, and (typically) the birth of live young. As used herein, “human” means a person. As used herein, “animal” or “non-human mammal” means any non-human animal, including but not limited to: a canine (e.g., a dog), a feline (e.g., a cat), a rodent, an ungulate (e.g., a cow or ox), an equine (e.g., a horse), or a primate.

As used herein, “modulator” means a molecule that alters the basal activity of NR2F6either positively (activates it or increases it) or negatively (represses, suppresses or decreases it). “Modulating” means the act of the modulator, either positive or negative. A compound of the technology herein can be, in various embodiments, a modulator of NR2F6, for example, at an effective concentration or in an effective amount, but not be a modulator of any other receptor, or not a modulator at any other amount of NR2F6 or any other receptor. This can provide selectivity of effect of a compound of the technology herein when administered to a patient for treatment of any disease.

In certain embodiments, one diastereomer or one enantiomer of a compound of the present technology can display superior biological activity compared with the other. When required, separation of the diastereomeric mixture or the racemic material can be achieved by HPLC, optionally using a chiral column or by using a resolving agent such as camphonic chloride for the resolution of enantiomers. A chiral compound described herein can also be directly synthesized using a chiral catalyst or a chiral ligand.

In certain embodiments, one deuterated or tritiated compound of the present technology can display superior biological activity compared with one or more others. When required, separation of the material can be achieved by one of ordinary skill in the art.

In certain embodiments, the present technology is directed to methods of modulating the immune system using compounds that alter activity of NR2F6.

In certain embodiments, compounds herein can be utilized for stimulation of NR2F6 activity, alone, or in combination with, for example, PKC activation. In certain embodiments, the compounds herein can be utilized for inhibition of NR2F6 activity, alone or in combination with, for example, anti-PD1, anti-PDL1 or anti-CTLA4 antibodies.

In other embodiments, the methods are directed to the stimulation of NR2F6 for, e.g., induction of immune inhibition, or stimulation of cellular proliferation without significant induction of differentiation. Inhibition of NR2F6 can be desirable in situations where a clinician seeks to augment immune response, or induce cellular differentiation.

In other embodiments, inhibition of NR2F6 expression can be desirable in situations where inhibition of cancer or cancer stem cells is desired.

In certain embodiments, activation of NR2F6 expression can be desirable in situations where inhibition of the immune system is desired, for example, in connection with autoimmune disorders.

The interplay between the activation or deactivation of NRs by different structural classes of endogenous ligands, such as the steroid and thyroid hormones, lipids, vitamins and other biochemicals, is an important part of their function. The 48 NR family members are classified into subgroups based on the identification of endogenous ligands for each receptor. The endocrine receptors include the steroid hormone receptors that bind steroid hormones and the heterodimeric receptors that partner with the retinoid X receptor and bind thyroid hormones, retinoids, and vitamin D.

The identification of specific endogenous ligands for the endocrine receptors has facilitated the design and development of selective receptor modulators (SRMs) that exhibit tissue-specific agonist or antagonist activities and are used for treatment of hormone-/hormone receptor-dependent diseases. Tamoxifen is one of many selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulators used in endocrine therapies for treating ER-positive breast cancer patients.

Adopted orphan receptors are a subtype of NRs that are subdivided into groups based on their ligands. The lipid sensor receptor subtypes and their ligands include retinoid X receptor (9-cis-retinoic acid), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) (fatty acids), liver X receptor (oxysterols), farnesoid X receptor (bile acids), and pregnane X receptor, which binds cholesterol derivatives.

Retinoid X receptors have been found in various cancer stem cells and methodologies for their utilization, as well as ligands/synthetic ligands targeting them, have been developed. Any of these can be utilized by one of skill in the art to practice the methods of the present technology, which provides compounds useful for modulating the NR2F6 nuclear receptor. Methods of modulating PPARs are also amenable to utilization in the context of the current technology, whose methodologies can, in various embodiments, be adapted for use with the compounds discussed herein for treatment of cancer or immune modulation.

With regard to PPARs, three subtypes of the PPAR family are PPARα, PPARγ, and PPARδ, PPARγ is abundantly expressed in many cell types, where it regulates lipid metabolism, glucose homeostasis, tumor progression, and inflammation. Polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosanoids, prostaglandins, and linoleic acid have been identified as endogenous ligands for PPARγ. The thiazolidinedione class of compounds function as high-affinity synthetic agonists for PPARγ subsequent to exposure to specific ligands. PPARγ forms a heterodimer complex with retinoid X receptor, which then mediates the target gene expression. In terms of immune modulation, in certain embodiments, NR2F6 specific compounds can be substituted for those described for PPAR.

The enigmatic orphan receptor subtype can include the constitutive androstane receptor (androstane and many drugs or xenobiotics), hepatocyte nuclear factor-4, and steroidogenic factor-1/liver receptor homolog 1 (LRH-1) (phospholipids), retinoid acid-related orphan receptor (cholesterol and retinoic acids), and estrogen-related receptor (estrogens). These can be useful in methods of performing immunotherapy that include NR2F6 modulators.

The orphan receptors are the third class of NRs. The crystal structure of the ligand-binding domain of the orphan receptor Nurr1 (NR4A2) shows that several hydrophobic residues protrude into the ligand-binding pocket, and a typical coactivator-binding site is lacking, suggesting that some orphan receptors may not bind ligands.

Like other NR classes, the orphan receptors play important roles in cellular homeostasis and diseases including cancer, and several recent reports document the expression and potential functions of orphan receptors in different tumors and cancer cell lines. Breast tumors are routinely classified as ER⁺ or ER, and expression of ER has prognostic significance that influences selection of therapeutic regimens. However, analysis of ER⁺ and ER⁻ tumors for expression (mRNA) of all 48 NRs also demonstrated the important prognostic significance of several orphan receptors. The NR4A (Nur77/TR3, Nurr1, and Nor 1) and NR2F6 [v-erbA-related protein (EAR2)] receptors are uniquely overexpressed in (ER⁺ and ER⁻ combined) tumors. Moreover, Nur77, EAR2, and chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor II (COUP-TFII) are among a limited group of NRs that are prognostic for breast cancer classification and histologic grade, and COUP-TFII expression was a positive prognostic factor for tamoxifen-treated ER⁺ breast cancer patients.

Examination of lung tumor and nontumor tissue indicated highly variable NR expression; however, gene combinations and individual receptors, such as the orphan receptor small heterodimer partner (SHP, NR0B2), predicted enhanced survival for early-stage lung cancer patients. Moreover, expression of Nur77 in normal lung epithelium from patients has been shown to be an indicator for good prognosis.

NR profiling of the NCI60 cancer cell panel demonstrated that relative expression levels of some orphan receptors also correlated with drug sensitivity. For example, cancer cell sensitivity to microtubule-disrupting drugs has been found to be enhanced in cells expressing low levels of NR2F6 and COUP-TFII, whereas high levels of the orphan receptor tailless (TLX, NR2E1) correlated with sensitivity to 9-fluoroprednisolone.

As used herein, the term “NR2F6” means “nuclear receptor subfamily 2, group F, member 6” or “Ear2.” Nuclear receptors are transcription factors that regulate the expression of specific target genes, thereby orchestrating a wide array of cellular processes including cellular activation, development and disease progression. The nuclear receptor super-family includes receptors that bind to hormones and orphan receptors with yet undefined endogenous ligands. As discussed in the present disclosure, NR2F6 can be a target in cancer immunotherapy or autoimmune suppression.

The COUP-TF orphan receptors are preferentially expressed in the central nervous system and organs that depend on the interaction between mesenchyme and epithelial layers. The three mammalian COUP-TF family members are NR2F1/Ear3, NR2F2/Arp1 and NR2F6. The established target genes of said COUP-TF family members are apolipoproteins and retinoic acid-, peroxisome-, oxytocin-, estrogen- and vitamin D receptors. By yeast 1-hybrid screen and in vitro assays with recombinant NR2F6, it was found that the TGACCT direct-repeat motif is the DNA binding sequence of NR2F6, and that overexpression of NR2F6 induces repression of the renin gene transcription in a DNA-binding-specific manner. Wild type human/animal NR2F6 is known to possess the following nucleotide sequence: 1 gtgcagcccg tgccccccgc gcgccggggc cgaatgcgcg ccgcgtaggg tcccccgggc 61 cgagaggggt gcccggaggg aagagcgcgg tgggggcgcc ccggccccgc tgccctgggg 121 ctatggccat ggtgaccggc ggctggggcg gccccggcgg cgacacgaac ggcgtggaca 181 aggcgggcgg ctacccgcgc gcggccgagg acgactcggc ctcgcccccc ggtgccgcca 241 gcgacgccga gccgggcgac gaggagcggc cggggctgca ggtggactgc gtggtgtgcg 301 gggacaagtc gagcggcaag cattacggtg tcttcacctg cgagggctgc aagagctttt 361 tcaagcgaag catccgccgc aacctcagct acacctgccg gtccaaccgt gactgccaga 421 tcgaccagca ccaccggaac cagtgccagt actgccgtct caagaagtgc ttccgggtgg 481 gcatgaggaa ggaggcggtg cagcgcggcc gcatcccgca ctcgctgcct ggtgccgtgg 541 ccgcctcctc gggcagcccc ccgggctcgg cgctggcggc agtggcgagc ggcggagacc 601 tcttcccggg gcagccggtg tccgaactga tcgcgcagct gctgcgcgct gagccctacc 661 ctgcggcggc cggacgcttc ggcgcagggg gcggcgcggc gggcgcggtg ctgggcatcg 721 acaacgtgtg cgagctggcg gcgcggctgc tcttcagcac cgtggagtgg gcgcgccacg 781 cgcccttctt ccccgagctg ccggtggccg accaggtggc gctgctgcgc ctgagctgga 841 gcgagctctt cgtgctgaac gcggcgcagg cggcgctgcc cctgcacacg gcgccgctac 901 tggccgccgc cggcctccac gccgcgccta tggccgccga gcgcgccgtg gctttcatgg 961 accaggtgcg cgccttccag gaggaggtgg acaagctggg ccgcctgcag gtcgactcgg 1021 ccgagtatgg ctgcctcaag gccatcgcgc tttcacgcc cgacgcctgt ggcctctcag 1081 acccggccca cgttgagagc ctgcaggaga aggcgcaggt ggccctcacc gagtatgtgc 1141 gggcgcagta cccgtcccag ccccagcgct tcgggcgcct gctgctgcgg ctccccgccc 1201 tgcgcgcggt ccctgcctcc ctcatctccc agctgttctt catgcgcctg gtggggaaga 1261 cgcccattga gacactgatc agagacatgc tgctgtcggg gagtaccttc aactggccct 1321 acggctcggg ccagtgacca tgacggggcc acgtgtgctg tggccaggcc tgcagacaga 1381 cctcaaggga cagggaatgc tgaggcctcg aggggcctcc cggggcccag gactctggct 1441 tctctcctca gacttctatt ttttaaagac tgtgaaatgt ttgtcttttc tgttttttaa 1501 atgatcatga aaccaaaaag agactgatca tccaggcctc agcctcatcc tccccaggac 1561 ccctgtccag gatggagggt ccaatcctag gacagccttg ttcctcagca cccctagcat 1621 gaacttgtgg gatggtgggg ttggcttccc tggcatgatg gacaaaggcc tggcgtcggc 1681 cagaggggct gctccagtgg gcaggggtag ctagcgtgtg ccaggcagat cctctggaca 1741 cgtaacctat gtcagacact acatgatgac tcaaggccaa taataaagac atttcctacc 1801 tgca, which corresponds to the following amino acid sequence: MAMVTGGWGGPGGDTNGVDKAGGYPRAAEDD SASPPGAASDAEPGD EERPGLQVDCVVCGDKSSGKHYGVFTCEGCKSFFKRSIRRNLSYTC RSNRDCQIDQHHRNQCQYCRLKKCFRVGMRKEAVQRGRIPHSLPGA VAASSGSPPGSALAAVASGGDLFPGQPVSELIAQLLRAEPYPAAAG RFGAGGGAAGAVLGIDNVCELAARLLFSTVEWARHAPFFPELPVAD QVALLRLSWSELFVLNAAQAALPLHTAPLLAAAGLHAAPMAAERAV AFMDQVRAFQEQVDKLGRLQVDSAEYGCLKAIALFTPDACGLSDPA HVESLQEKAQVALTEYVRAQYPSQPQRFGRLLLRLPALRAVPASLI SQLFFMRLVGKTPIETLIRDMLLSGSTFNWPYGSGQ (SEQ ID NO: 1).

Accordingly, in certain embodiments the present technology is directed to compounds that bind to a portion or all of an NR2F6 molecule; or any molecule that is, in various embodiments, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98% or at least 99% identical to the amino acid sequence of NR2F6.

As used herein, the terms “agonist” or “activator” are used interchangeably and mean a compound or substance capable of fully or partially stimulating the physiologic activity of one or more specific receptors. In the context of the present disclosure, an agonist can therefore stimulate the physiological activity of a receptor such as NR2F6 upon binding of said compound substance to said receptor. As further discussed herein, an “agonist” or “activator” can be used to “activate,” “stimulate” or “increase activity” of a cell.

In certain embodiments, binding of an “agonist” or “activator” to a given receptor, e.g., NR2F6, can mimic the action of an endogenous ligand binding to said receptor. As used herein, accordingly, the term “agonist” also encompasses partial agonists or co-agonists or co-activators. In addition, however, an “agonist” or “activator” of NR2F6 as used herein can also be capable of stimulating the function of a given receptor, such as NR2F6, by inducing or enhancing the expression of the nucleic acid molecule encoding for said receptor. Thus, an agonist or activator of NR2F6 can, in certain embodiments, lead to an increased expression level of NR2F6 (e.g., increased level of NR2F6 mRNA, NR2F6 protein) which is reflected in an increased activity of NR2F6. This increased activity can be measured or detected by the methods herein.

Accordingly, an activator of NR2F6 in accordance with the present technology can, in certain embodiments, also encompass transcriptional activators of NR2F6 expression that are capable of enhancing NR2F6 function. As mentioned above, “agonist” includes a partial agonist. “Partial agonists” mean candidate molecules that behave like agonists, but that, even at high concentrations, cannot activate NR2F6 to the same extent as a full agonist. As described below, the increased expression or activity of NR2F6 by an agonist or activator of NR2F6 can lead to decreased activity (or expression) of components of the NR2F6-dependent signaling pathway; in particular the activity of NF-AT and AP-1 can be decreased. NF-AT/AP-1 regulate transcription/expression of further “downstream” components of the NR2F6-dependent signaling pathway, such as IL-2, IL-17 and/or IFN-gamma. A decrease in NF-AT/AP-1 activity can result in a decreased transcription of these “downstream” components (e.g., IL-2, IL-17 and/or IFN-gamma) which in turn leads to a suppression of an immune response.

In certain embodiments, an agonist or activator of NR2F6 can lead to suppression of an immune response. Hence, the use of potent agonists/activators of NR2F6 can lead to a higher expression or activity of NR2F6.

In certain embodiments NR2F6 can be considered its own “agonist” or “activator.” For example, in certain embodiments, overexpression of NR2F6 can lead to enhanced NR2F6 activity, thus agonizing NR2F6 function. Accordingly, NR2F6 as defined herein can, in certain embodiments, be used for the treatment of a disease related to an augmented immune response.

For example, NR2F6 can be used in accordance with certain embodiments of the present technology, wherein NR2F6 is any of the following: (a) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleic acid sequence of NR2F6; (b) a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of NR2F6; (c) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid molecule encoding a peptide having an NR2F6 amino acid sequence; (d) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid encoded by a nucleic acid molecule hybridizing to the complementary strand of nucleic acid molecules as defined in (a) or (c) and encoding a NR2F6 or a functional fragment thereof; (e) a polypeptide having at least 60% homology to the polypeptide of any one of (a) to (d), whereby said polypeptide is a NR2F6 or a functional fragment thereof; or (f) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid encoded by a nucleic acid molecule being degenerate as a result of the genetic code to the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid molecule as defined in (a), (c) and (d). As described herein, the increase of NR2F6 activity can lead to a decreased activity of NF-AT/AP-1 (and other components of the NR2F6-dependent signaling pathway) which in turn can result in a suppressed immune response.

An exemplary transfection of CD4⁺ T cells with a construct for the overexpression of NR2F6 is also shown in the appended examples. As demonstrated therein, overexpression (about 5-fold increase over normal expression level) can lead to a diminished IL-2 activity/expression and consequently to a reduced IL-2 amount, resulting in a reduced immune response.

Therefore, agonists/activators of NR2F6 are useful in the treatment of diseases where suppression of the immune response is desired (e.g., diseases with an overstimulated immune response, such as allergies and multiple sclerosis). As used herein, the term “overexpression” means that the NR2F6 activity/expression is, in various embodiments, at least 1-fold, at least 2-fold, at least 3-fold, at least 4-fold, at least 5-fold, at least 6-fold, at least 7-fold, at least 8-fold, at least 9-fold, at least 10-fold, or at least 25-fold increased in comparison to a (control) standard value as defined herein, wherein a value of 25 fold expression level or greater over normal can be considered as a maximum overexpression level.

As used herein, “antagonist” or “inhibitor” are used interchangeably and mean a compound or substance capable of fully or partially suppressing or inhibiting the physiologic activity of one or more specific receptors. In the context of the present disclosure, an antagonist can therefore suppress the physiological activity of a receptor upon binding of said compound substance to said receptor but does not activate the receptor and therefore blocks the activity of other agonists. As further discussed herein, an “antagonist” or “inhibitor” can be used to “deactivate,” “inhibit,” “suppress” or “decrease activity” of a cell.

As used herein, the terms “immune response” or “immune reaction” are used interchangeably and mean the response or reaction of the immune system to an antigen. In the case of an immune response, immune cells are activated in such way that one or more specific functions of said immune cells can be induced. The “immune cells” can include, but are not limited to, B cells, T cells, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, mast cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. In certain embodiments, said “specific function(s) of activated immune cells” can include, but are not limited to, secretion of antibodies, presentation of antigen, proliferation of said immune cells, secretion of cytokines such as interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-17 (IL-17), interleukin-18 (IL-18), or interferon gamma (IFNgamma), expression of regulatory-, activation- or adhesion molecules, and the ability to induce apoptosis or cytolysis.

As used herein, the term “antigen” means any substance capable of inducing an immune response. An antigen typically is associated with a foreign substance (i.e. a “non-self antigen”). However, an own body-derived substance (i.e., a “self antigen”) can also induce an immune response.

As used herein, accordingly, the term “immune response” also encompasses autoimmune responses or autoimmune reactions. For example, in certain embodiments, the technology herein is directed to a method of treating or reducing the effect of an autoimmune response, reaction, disease or disorder, the method comprising activating the NR2F6 target in isolated immune cells by binding them with a compound according to the present technology.

As used herein, “treating a cancer,” “inhibiting cancer” or “reducing cancer growth” are used interchangeably and mean inhibiting or preventing oncogenic activity of cancer cells. Oncogenic activity can comprise stimulating migration, invasion, drug resistance, cell survival, anchorage-independent growth, non-responsiveness to cell death signals, angiogenesis, or combinations thereof of the cancer cells. In various embodiments, agents suitable for use in treating a cancer or reducing the growth rate of a tumor include, but are not limited to, small organic molecules, peptides, proteins, peptidomimetics, nucleic acids, antibodies and combinations thereof. In various embodiments, such agents can be formulated with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and can be administered: intravenously, orally, buccally, sublingually, parenterally, by inhalation, by nasal administration, by insufflation, by topical application, transdermally, by cutaneous injection, or by local administration. An agent can additionally be administered in conjunction with one or more anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agent in an additive or synergistic manner.

As used herein, “cancer,” “cancer cell,” “tumor” and “tumor cell” are used interchangeably and mean a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled, abnormal growth of cells (e.g., a neoplasia). These can include solid tumor cancer, liquid tumor cancer and metastatic disease. In some forms of cancer, the cancer cells can spread locally or through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body (“metastatic cancer”). As used herein, “ex vivo activated lymphocytes,” “lymphocytes with enhanced antitumor activity” and “dendritic cell cytokine induced killers” are used interchangeably and mean composition of cells that have been activated ex vivo and subsequently reintroduced within the context of the current disclosure. Although the word “lymphocyte” is used, this also includes heterogenous cells that have been expanded during the ex vivo culturing process including dendritic cells, NKT cells, gamma delta T cells, and various other innate and adaptive immune cells.

As used herein, “cancer” means any disease caused by uncontrolled division or growth of abnormal cells, and any malignant growth or tumor resultant from such uncontrolled division or growth. As used herein, “cancer” includes all types of cancer or neoplasm or malignant tumors found in animals, including leukemias, carcinomas and sarcomas. Examples of cancers include, but are not limited to: cancer of the brain, skin (including melanoma), breast, cervix, head and neck, kidney, lung, non-small cell lung, mesothelioma, sarcoma, any internal organ (including bladder, stomach, liver, pancreas, uterus, ovary, prostate, colon) and Medulloblastoma.

As used herein, “leukemia” means a broadly progressive, malignant disease of the hematopoietic organs or systems and is generally characterized by a distorted proliferation and development of leukocytes and their precursors in the blood and bone marrow. Leukemia diseases include, but are not limited to: acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia, chronic granulocytic leukemia, acute promyelocytic leukemia, adult T-cell leukemia, B cell lymphoma, aleukemic leukemia, a leukocythemic leukemia, basophilic leukemia, blast cell leukemia, bovine leukemia, chronic myelocytic leukemia, leukemia cutis, embryonal leukemia, eosinophilic leukemia, Gross' leukemia, Rieder cell leukemia, Schilling's leukemia, stem cell leukemia, subleukemic leukemia, undifferentiated cell leukemia, hairy-cell leukemia, hemoblastic leukemia, hemocytoblastic leukemia, histiocytic leukemia, stem cell leukemia, acute monocytic leukemia, leukopenic leukemia, lymphatic leukemia, lymphoblastic leukemia, lymphocytic leukemia, lymphogenous leukemia, lymphoid leukemia, lymphosarcoma cell leukemia, mast cell leukemia, megakaryocytic leukemia, micromyeloblastic leukemia, monocytic leukemia, myeloblastic leukemia, myelocytic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, myeloid granulocytic leukemia, myelomonocytic leukemia, Naegeli leukemia, plasma cell leukemia, plasmacytic leukemia, and promyelocytic leukemia.

As used herein, the term “carcinoma” means a malignant new growth made up of epithelial cells tending to infiltrate the surrounding tissues, or resist physiological and non-physiological cell death signals and give rise to metastases. Exemplary carcinomas include, but are not limited to: acinar carcinoma, acinous carcinoma, adenocystic carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, carcinoma adenomatosum, carcinoma of adrenal cortex, alveolar carcinoma, alveolar cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, carcinoma basocellulare, basaloid carcinoma, basosquamous cell carcinoma, bronchioalveolar carcinoma, bronchiolar carcinoma, bronchogenic carcinoma, cerebriform carcinoma, cholangiocellular carcinoma, chorionic carcinoma, colloid carcinoma, comedo carcinoma, corpus carcinoma, cribriform carcinoma, carcinoma en cuirasse, carcinoma cutaneum, cylindrical carcinoma, cylindrical cell carcinoma, duct carcinoma, carcinoma durum, embryonal carcinoma, encephaloid carcinoma, epiennoid carcinoma, carcinoma epitheliale adenoides, exophytic carcinoma, carcinoma ex ulcere, carcinoma fibrosum, gelatiniform carcinoma, gelatinous carcinoma, giant cell carcinoma, signet-ring cell carcinoma, carcinoma simplex, small-cell carcinoma, solanoid carcinoma, spheroidal cell carcinoma, spindle cell carcinoma, carcinoma spongiosum, squamous carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, string carcinoma, carcinoma telangiectaticum, carcinoma telangiectodes, transitional cell carcinoma, carcinoma tuberosum, tuberous carcinoma, verrmcous carcinoma, carcinoma villosum, carcinoma gigantocellulare, glandular carcinoma, granulosa cell carcinoma, hair-matrix carcinoma, hematoid carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, Hurthle cell carcinoma, hyaline carcinoma, hypemephroid carcinoma, infantile embryonal carcinoma, carcinoma in situ, intraepidermal carcinoma, intraepithelial carcinoma, Krompecher's carcinoma, Kulchitzky-cell carcinoma, large-cell carcinoma, lenticular carcinoma, carcinoma lenticulare, lipomatous carcinoma, lymphoepithelial carcinoma, carcinoma medullare, medullary carcinoma, melanotic carcinoma, carcinoma molle, mucinous carcinoma, carcinoma muciparum, carcinoma mucocellulare, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, carcinoma mucosum, mucous carcinoma, carcinoma myxomatodes, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, oat cell carcinoma, carcinoma ossificans, osteoid carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, periportal carcinoma, preinvasive carcinoma, prickle cell carcinoma, pultaceous carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma of kidney, reserve cell carcinoma, carcinoma sarcomatodes, schneiderian carcinoma, scirrhous carcinoma, and carcinoma scroti.

As used herein, the term, “sarcoma” means a tumor which is made up of a substance like the embryonic connective tissue and is generally composed of closely packed cells embedded in a fibrillar, heterogeneous, or homogeneous substance. Sarcomas include, but are not limited to: chondrosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, lymphosarcoma, melanosarcoma, myxosarcoma, osteosarcoma, endometrial sarcoma, stromal sarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, fascial sarcoma, fibroblastic sarcoma, giant cell sarcoma, Abernethy's sarcoma, adipose sarcoma, liposarcoma, alveolar soft part sarcoma, ameloblastic sarcoma, botryoid sarcoma, chloroma sarcoma, chorio carcinoma, embryonal sarcoma, Wilms' tumor sarcoma, granulocytic sarcoma, Hodgkin's sarcoma, idiopathic multiple pigmented hemorrhagic sarcoma, immunoblastic sarcoma of B cells, lymphoma, immunoblastic sarcoma of T-cells, Jensen's sarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, Kupffer cell sarcoma, angiosarcoma, leukosarcoma, malignant mesenchymoma sarcoma, parosteal sarcoma, reticulocytic sarcoma, Rous sarcoma, serocystic sarcoma, synovial sarcoma, and telangiectaltic sarcoma. Additional exemplary neoplasias include, for example, Hodgkin's Disease, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, multiple myeloma, neuroblastoma, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, rhabdomyosarcoma, primary thrombocytosis, primary macroglobulinemia, small-cell lung tumors, primary brain tumors, stomach cancer, colon cancer, malignant pancreatic insulanoma, malignant carcinoid, premalignant skin lesions, testicular cancer, lymphomas, thyroid cancer, neuroblastoma, esophageal cancer, genitourinary tract cancer, malignant hypercalcemia, cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, and adrenal cortical cancer.

In some particular embodiments of the present technology, the cancer treated is a melanoma. As used herein, the term “melanoma” means a tumor arising from the melanocytic system of the skin or other organs. Melanomas include, for example, Harding-Passey melanoma, juvenile melanoma, lentigo maligna melanoma, malignant melanoma, acral-lentiginous melanoma, amelanotic melanoma, benign juvenile melanoma, Cloudman's melanoma, S91 melanoma, nodular melanoma subungual melanoma, and superficial spreading melanoma. As used herein, the term “polypeptide” is used interchangeably with “peptide,” “altered peptide ligand” and “fluorocarbonated peptides.”

As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” means any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like. Except insofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible with the active compound, use thereof in the therapeutic compositions is contemplated. Supplementary active compounds can also be incorporated into the compositions herein.

As used herein, the terms “T cell” or “T lymphocyte” are used interchangeably, and mean a cell derived from thymus among lymphocytes involved in an immune response. In various embodiments a T cell includes any of: a CD8-positive T cell (cytotoxic T cell: CTL), a CD4⁺ T cell (helper T cell), a suppressor T cell, a regulatory T cell such as a controlling T cell, an effector cell, a naive T cell, a memory T cell, an alpha (α) beta (β) T cell expressing TCR α and β chains, and a gamma (γ) delta (δ) T cell expressing TCR γ and δ chains.

In certain embodiments, the T cell includes a precursor cell of a T cell in which differentiation into a T cell is directed. Examples of “cell populations containing T cells” include, in addition to body fluids such as blood (peripheral blood, umbilical blood etc.) and bone marrow fluids, cell populations containing peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), hematopoietic cells, hematopoietic stem cells, umbilical blood mononuclear cells etc., which have been collected, isolated, purified or induced from the body fluids.

Further, a variety of cell populations containing T cells and derived from hematopoietic cells can be used in connection with the embodiments of the present technology. These cells may have been activated by cytokine such as IL-2 in vivo or ex vivo, and can be collected in any known way, for example, collected from a living body; obtained via ex vivo culture, for example, a T cell population obtained by a method herein; or obtained by freeze preservation.

As used herein, the term “antibody” means both intact molecules as well as fragments thereof that include the antigen-binding site. Whole antibody structure is often given as H₂L₂ and refers to the fact that antibodies commonly comprise 2 light (L) amino acid chains and 2 heavy (H) amino acid chains. Both chains have regions capable of interacting with a structurally complementary antigenic target. The regions interacting with the target are referred to as “variable” or “V” regions and are characterized by differences in amino acid sequence from antibodies of different antigenic specificity. The variable regions of either H or L chains contain the amino acid sequences capable of specifically binding to antigenic targets. Within these sequences are smaller sequences dubbed “hypervariable” because of their extreme variability between antibodies of differing specificity. Such hypervariable regions are also referred to as “complementarity determining regions” or “CDR” regions. These CDR regions account for the basic specificity of the antibody for a particular antigenic determinant structure. The CDRs represent non-contiguous stretches of amino acids within the variable regions but, regardless of species, the positional locations of these critical amino acid sequences within the variable heavy and light chain regions have been found to have similar locations within the amino acid sequences of the variable chains. The variable heavy and light chains of all antibodies each have 3 CDR regions, each non-contiguous with the others (termed L1, L2, L3, H1, H2, H3) for the respective light (L) and heavy (H) chains.

In various embodiments, the antibodies discussed herein can also be wholly synthetic, wherein the polypeptide chains of the antibodies are synthesized and, possibly, optimized for binding to the polypeptides disclosed herein as being receptors. Such antibodies can be, in various embodiments, chimeric or humanized antibodies, and can be fully tetrameric in structure, or can be dimeric and comprise only a single heavy and a single light chain.

As used herein, the terms “effective amount” or “therapeutically effective amount” are used interchangeably and mean a dosage sufficient to treat, inhibit, or alleviate one or more symptoms of a disease state being treated or to otherwise provide a desired pharmacologic or physiologic effect, especially enhancing T cell response to a selected antigen. The precise dosage in any given embodiment can vary according to a variety of factors such as subject-dependent variables (e.g., age, immune system health, etc.), the disease, and the treatment being administered.

As used herein, the terms “individual,” “host,” “subject” and “patient” are used interchangeably and mean a mammal, including, but not limited to, primates, for example, human beings, as well as rodents, such as mice and rats, and other laboratory animals or any other animals mentioned herein.

As used herein, “treat,” “treating” or “treatment” means an alleviation of symptoms associated with a disorder or disease, or inhibition of further progression or worsening of those symptoms, or prevention or prophylaxis of the disease or disorder; and includes: (i) preventing a pathologic condition from occurring (e.g., prophylaxis); (ii) inhibiting the pathologic condition or arresting its development (e.g., slowing or stopping proliferation of cancer cells or tumor growth); (iii) relieving the pathologic condition; or (iv) diminishing symptoms associated with the pathologic condition.

As used herein, the term “treatment regimen” means a treatment of a disease or a method for achieving a desired physiological change, such as increased or decreased response of the immune system to an antigen or immunogen, such as an increase or decrease in the number or activity of one or more cells, or cell types, that are involved in such response. In various embodiments discussed herein, the treatment or method comprises administering to an animal, such as a mammal, a sufficient amount of one or more (in certain embodiments two or more) chemical agents or components of said regimen to effectively treat a disease or to produce said physiological change. In certain embodiments, the two or more agents or components are administered together, such as part of the same composition, or administered separately and independently at the same time or at different times (i.e., administration of each agent or component is separated by a finite period of time from one or more of the agents or components). In certain embodiments, administration of said one or more agents or components achieves a result greater than that of any of said agents or components when administered alone or in isolation.

As used herein, the terms “anergy” or “unresponsiveness” are used interchangeably and include unresponsiveness to an immune cell to stimulation, for example, stimulation by an activation receptor or cytokine. Anergy can occur due to, for example, exposure to an immune suppressor or exposure to an antigen in a high dose. Such anergy is generally antigen-specific, and can continue even after completion of exposure to a tolerized antigen. For example, the anergy in a T cell and/or NK cell can be characterized by failure of production of cytokine, e.g., interleukin (IL)-2. The T cell anergy and/or NK cell anergy can occur in part when a first signal (signal via TCR or CD-3) is received in the absence of a second signal (costimulatory signal) upon exposure of a T cell and/or NK cell to an antigen.

As used herein, the terms “enhanced function of a T cell,” “enhanced cytotoxicity” and “augmented activity” are used interchangeably and mean that the effector function of the T cell or NK cell is improved. In certain embodiments, the enhanced function of the T cell or NK cell can include any of the following: an improvement in the proliferation rate of the T cell or NK cell, an increase in the production amount of cytokine, or an improvement in cytotoxity. Further, in certain embodiments the enhanced function of the T cell or NK cell includes cancellation or suppression of tolerance of the T cell or NK cell in the suppressed state such as the anergy (unresponsive) state, or the rest state, that is, transfer of the T cell or NK cell from the suppressed state into the state where the T cell or NK cell responds to stimulation from the outside.

As used herein, “expression” means generation of mRNA by transcription from nucleic acids such as genes, polynucleotides, and oligonucleotides, or generation of a protein or a polypeptide by transcription from mRNA. Expression can be detected by any method including RT-PCR, Northern Blot, or in situ hybridization. As used herein, “suppression of expression” means a decrease of a transcription product or a translation product in a significant amount as compared with the case of no suppression. The suppression of expression herein shows, in various embodiments, a decrease of a transcription product or a translation product in amounts of 30% or more, 50% or more, 70% or more, or 90% or more.

As used herein, “augmented immune response” means characterized by a particularly strong response or reaction of the immune system to the presence of an antigen. Under normal, non-pathological conditions, immune responses are regulated in a tightly controlled fashion. Moreover, immune responses are self-limiting and decline in time after exposure to the antigen. In case of an “augmented immune response” however, the immune response can be hypersensitive, i.e., the immune response can cause damage to the organism's own cells or tissue in presence of an antigen. Furthermore, in some cases of an “augmented immune response,” for example in auto-immune diseases or disorders or in transplant rejects (and the like), the immune system can fail to distinguish between self and non-self substances. As used herein, “disease related to an augmented immune response” accordingly relates to any disease or disorder in which an augmented immune response is etiological for, associated with, secondary to or the resultant of said disorder.

In certain embodiments, an augmented immune response can be determined by directly or indirectly measuring parameters that are indicative for the magnitude of the immune response or reaction to an antigen, and comparing the outcome of said measurement with the outcome of the same test in a physiologically normal subject. Parameters indicative for the magnitude of the immune response/reaction can include, but are not limited to: the presence or quantity of (specific) antibodies; the presence or quantity of (specific) immune cells; the presence or quantity of (specific) cytokines; or the presence or quantity of (specific) regulatory-, activation- or adhesion molecules.

For a disease to be related to an augmented immune response, accordingly, said augmented immune response can be detectable preceding, during or following said disease. In certain embodiments, the disease related to an augmented immune response is any of the following:

an acute or chronic transplant rejection, including septic shock, infections caused by bacteria including MRSA and viruses;

a dermatological disease, for example, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis or contact allergy;

T- and B-cell-mediated inflammatory disease, for example, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD);

graft-versus-host disease, for example, acute (or fulminant) graft-versus-host disease or chronic graft-versus-host disease; or

auto-immune disease, for example, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, like ulcerative colitis or Behcet's disease; vasculitis, lupus erythematosus, pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus foliaceus, myasthenia gravis, polymyositis, mixed collective tissue disease (MCTD) rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus (whether Type 1 or Type 2), celiac disease, celiac sprue disease, atherosclerosis, Goodpasture's syndrome, Grave's disease, autoimmune hepatitis/hepatic autoimmune diseases, autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura, granulomatosis (e.g., morbus Wegener), Sjogren's Syndrome, scleroderma, alopecia areata or autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

Immune responses can be exquisitely controlled, requiring multiple finely tuned levels of activation as well as inactivation signals. In T lymphocytes among these signaling networks, T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation activates NF-AT/AP-1, a family of transcription factors that is of particular importance during immune cell activation. NF-AT mediates the transcriptional induction of “cell fate-determining genes,” which govern as diverse outcomes as activation, anergy or apoptosis. Mechanistically, the rise of intracellular Ca²⁺ triggered by antigen binding to the TCR can lead to the activation of calcineurin's phosphatase activity. This leads to dephosphorylation of phospho-sites within the N-terminal regulatory domain on NF-AT and, subsequently, nuclear import of NF-AT. Upon transient stimuli, however, feedback inhibition, mediated via GSK3 (glycogen synthase kinase 3), CK1 (casein kinase 1) and DYRK (dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase) protein kinases can counter-regulate NF-AT nuclear occupancy by rephosphorylation, which induces the nuclear export of NF-AT and the abort of immune activation-associated gene transcription. NF-AT family members are also subject to regulation in the nucleus through their ability to directly interact with other transcriptional regulatory factors. NF-AT requires a protein partner for high-affinity binding at most DNA sites. NF-AT complexes mostly contain cell type- or cell lineage—specific protein binding partners. In cardiac, skeletal, and smooth muscle cells, NF-AT forms complexes with GATA proteins.

Accordingly, in certain embodiments the present technology is directed to agonists or activators of NR2F6 for the treatment of a disease related to an augmented immune response. In other embodiments, the present technology is directed to the use of an agonist or activator of NR2F6 for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of a disease related to an augmented immune response. The utilization of NR2F6 modulating compounds for alteration of immune response can be utilized by administering in patients suffering from cancer in which increased efficacy of a cancer vaccine is desired. In these situations, inhibition of NR2F6 is desirable, optionally in addition to immune stimulation. Thus, in various embodiments, the compositions herein can comprise any of the following:

(a) agonists/activators of NR2F6;

(b) antagonists/inhibitors of NR2F6;

(c) agonists/activators of NR2F6 in combination with: (i) one or more additional immune enhancers (ii) CAR-T cell therapy (which can reduce side effects); or (iii) autologous cell therapies, e.g., dendritic cells, anti-PD1 and antiCTLA4 antibodies, PMBC, or umbilical vein cord blood-derived cells.

(d) antagonists/inhibitors of NR2F6 in combination with: (i) one or more additional immune suppressants; (ii) CAR-T cell therapy (which can reduce side effects); or (iii) autologous cell therapies, e.g., dendritic cells, anti-PD1 and antiCTLA4 antibodies, PMBC, or umbilical vein cord blood-derived cells.

Accordingly, in certain embodiments, inhibitor compounds of NR2F6 are administered with a cancer antigen, said cancer antigens include ROBO-4. In certain embodiments, the antigens can be used to replace ROBO-4. These can include any of the following: a) Fos-related antigen 1; b) LCK; c) FAP; d) VEGFR2; e) NA17; f) PDGFR-beta; g) PAP; h) MAD-CT-2; i) Tie-2; j) PSA; k) protamine 2; l)legumain; m) endosialin; n) prostate stem cell antigen; o)carbonic anhydrase IX; p) STn; q) Page 4; r) proteinase 3; s) GM3 ganglioside; t) tyrosinase; u) MART1; v) gp100; w) SART3; x) RGS5; y)SSX2; z) Globol1; aa) Tn; ab) CEA; ac) hCG; ad) PRAME; ae) XAGE-1; af) AKAP-4; ag) TRP-2; ah) B7H3; ai) sperm fibrous sheath protein; aj) CYP1B1; ak)HMWMAA; al) sLe(a); am) MAGE A1; an) GD2; ao) PSMA; ap) mesothelin; aq) fucosyl GM1; ar) GD3; as) sperm protein 17; at) NY-ESO-1; au) PAX5; av) AFP; aw) polysialic acid; ax) EpCAM; ay) MAGE-A3; az) mutant p53; ba) ras; bb) mutant ras; bc) NY-BR1; bd) PAX3; be) HER2/neu; bf) OY-TES1; bg) HPV E6 E7; bh) PLAC1; bi) hTERT; bj) BORIS; bk) ML-IAP; bl) idiotype of b cell lymphoma or multiple myeloma; bm) EphA2; bn) EGFRvIII; bo) cyclin Bl; bp) RhoC; bq) androgen receptor; br) surviving; bs) MYCN; bt) wildtype p53; bu) LMP2; by) ETV6-AML; bw) MUC1; bx) BCR-ABL; by) ALK; bz) WT1; ca) ERG (TMPRSS2 ETS fusion gene); cb) sarcoma translocation breakpoint; cc) STEAP; cd) OFA/iLRP; and ce) Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4 (CSPG4).

In certain embodiments, the assessment of compounds for NR2F6 modulating activity is performed utilizing means known in the art, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,091,696. Compounds useful for the screening and modification for enhanced NR2F6 modulatory activity include: CAR Agonists such as 5β-Dihydroprogesterone, 6,7-Dimethylesculetin, Amiodarone, Artemisinin, Benfuracarb, Carbamazepine, Carvedilol, Chlorpromazine, Chrysin, CITCO, Clotrimazole, Cyclophosphamide, Cypermethrin, DHEA, Efavirenz, Ellagic acid, Griseofulvin, Methoxychlor, Mifepristone, Nefazodone, Nevirapine, Nicardipine, Octicizer, Permethrin, Phenobarbital, Phenytoin, Reserpine, TCPOBOP, Telmisartan, Tolnaftate, Troglitazone, Valproic acid. CAR Antagonists such as 3,17β-Estradiol, 3α-Androstanol, 3α-Androstenol, 3β-Androstanol, 17-Androstanol, AITC, Ethinyl estradiol, Meclizine, Nigramide J, Okadaic acid, PK-11195, S-07662, T-0901317. FXR Agonists such as Bile acids, Cafestol, Chenodeoxycholic acid, Fexaramine, GW-4064, Obeticholic acid. FXR Antagonists such as Guggulsterone. LXR Agonists such as 22R-Hydroxycholesterol, 24S-Hydroxycholesterol, 27-Hydroxycholesterol, Cholestenoic acid, DMHCA, GW-3965, Hypocholamide, T-0901317. PPAR-alpha Agonists such as 15-HETE, 15-HpETE, Aleglitazar, Aluminum clofibrate, Arachidonic acid, Bezafibrate, Clofibrate, CP-775146, DHEA, Elafibranor, Fenofibrate, Gemfibrozil, GW-7647, Leukotriene B4, LG-101506, LG-100754, Lobeglitazone, Muraglitazar, Oleylethanolamide, Palmitoylethanolamide, Pemafibrate, Perfluorononanoic acid, Perfluorooctanoic acid, Pioglitazone, Saroglitazar, Sodelglitazar, Tesaglitazar, Tetradecylthioacetic acid, Troglitazone, WY-14643. PPAR-alpha Antagonists such as GW-6471, MK-886. PPAR-delta Agonists such as 15-HETE, 15-HpETE, Arachidonic acid, Bezafibrate, Elafibranor, GW-0742, GW-501516, L-165,041, LG-101506, MBX-8025, Sodelglitazar, Tetradecylthioacetic acid. PPAR-delta Antagonists such as FH-535, GSK-0660, GSK-3787. PPAR gamma agonists such as 5-Oxo-ETE, 5-Oxo-15-hydroxy-ETE, 15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2, 15-HETE, 15-HpETE, Aleglitazar, Arachidonic acid, Berberine, Bezafibrate, Ciglitazone, Darglitazone, Edaglitazone, Etalocib, GW-1929, Ibuprofen, LG-100268, LG-100754, LG-101506, Lobeglitazone, Muraglitazar, nTZDpa, Perfluorononanoic, acid, Pioglitazone, Prostaglandin J2, Rosiglitazone, RS5444, Saroglitazar, Sodelglitazar, Telmisartan, Tesaglitazar, Troglitazone. SSPARMS such as BADGE, EPI-001, INT-131, MK-0533, S26948. PPAR gamma antagonists such as FH-535, GW-9662, SR-202, T-0070907. PPAR nonselective agonists such as Ciprofibrate, Clinofibrate, Clofibride, Englitazone, Etofibrate, Farglitazar, Netoglitazone, Ronifibrate, Rivoglitazone, Simfibrate. PXR Agonists such as 5α-Dihydroprogesterone, 5β-Dihydroprogesterone, 17α-Hydroxypregnenolone, 17α-Hydroxyprogesterone, Δ4-Androstenedione, Δ5-Androstenediol, Δ5-Androstenedione, AA-861, Allopregnanolone, Alpha-Lipoic acid, Ambrisentan, AMI-193, Amlodipine besylate, Antimycotics, Artemisinin, Aurothioglucose, Bile acids, Bithionol, Bosentan, Bumecaine, Cafestol, Cephaloridine, Cephradine, Chlorpromazine, Ciglitazone, Clindamycin, Clofenvinfos, Chloroxine, Clotrimazole, Colforsin, Corticosterone, Cyclophosphamide, Cyproterone acetate, Demecolcine, Dexamethasone, DHEA, DHEA-S, Dibunate sodium, Diclazuril, Dicloxacillin, Dimercaprol, Dinaline, Docetaxel, Docusate calcium, Dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, Dronabinol, Droxidopa, Eburnamonine, Ecopipam, Enzacamene, Epothilone B, Erythromycin, Famprofazone, Febantel, Felodipine, Fenbendazole, Fentanyl, Flucloxacillin, Fluorometholone, Griseofulvin, Haloprogin, Hetacillin potassium, Hyperforin (Hypericum perforatum), Indinavir sulfate, Lasalocid sodium, Levothyroxine, Linolenic acid, LOE-908, Loratadine, Lovastatin, Meclizine, Methacycline, Methylprednisolone, Metyrapone, Mevastatin, Mifepristone, Nafcillin, Nicardipine, Nicotine, Nifedipine, Nilvadipine, Nisoldipine, Norelgestromin, Omeprazole, Orlistat, Oxatomide, Paclitaxel, Phenobarbital, Plicamycin, Prednisolone, Pregnanolone, Pregnenolone, Pregnenolone 16α-carbonitrile, Proadifen, Progesterone, Reserpine, Reverse triiodothyronine Rifampicin, Rifaximin, Rimexolone, Riodipine, Ritonavir, Simvastatin, Sirolimus, Spironolactone, Spiroxatrine, SR-12813, Suberoylanilide, Sulfisoxazole, Suramin, Tacrolimus, Tenylidone, Terconazole, Testosterone isocaproate, Tetracycline, Thiamylal sodium, Thiothixene, Thonzonium bromide, Tianeptine, Troglitazone, Troleandomycin, Tropanyl 3,5-dimethulbenzoate, Zafirlukast, Zearalanol. PXR Antagonist such as Ketoconazole. RAR Agonists such as 9CDHRA, 9-cis-Retinoic acid (alitretinoin), AC-261066, AC-55649, Acitretin, Adapalene, all-trans-Retinoic acid (tretinoin), AM-580, BMS-493, BMS-753, BMS-961, CD-1530, CD-2314, CD-437, Ch-55, EC 23, Etretinate, Fenretinide, Isotretinoin, Palovarotene, Retinoic acid, Retinol (vitamin A), Tamibarotene, Tazarotene, Tazarotenic acid, TTNPB. RAR Antagonists such as BMS-195614, BMS-493, CD-2665, ER-50891, LE-135, MM-11253. RXR Agonists such as 9CDHRA, 9-cis-Retinoic acid (alitretinoin), all-trans-Retinoic acid (tretinoin), Bexarotene, CD 3254, Docosahexaenoic acid, Fluorobexarotene, Isotretinoin, LG-100268, LG-101506, LG-100754, Retinoic acid, Retinol (vitamin A), SR-11237. RXR Antagonists such as HX-531, HX-630, LG-100754, PA-452, UVI-3003. TR Agonists such as Dextrothyroxine, GC-1, Levothyroxine, Liothyronine, Thyroxine, Tiratricol, Triiodothyronine.

Other compounds useful for modulation of NR2F6 activity include: 5-tert-butyl-N-[(6-fluoro-4H-1,3-benzodioxin-8-yl)methyl]-2-methylpyrazole-3-carboxamide, ST50775950, ethyl 4-(cyclohexylamino)-2-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)pyrimidine-5-carboxylate, ethyl 4-(cyclopentylamino)-2-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)pyrimidine-5-carboxylate, AGN-PC-09SAX3, SMR000064686, AGN-PC-0NLTEQ, T6090485, MLS002548992, 5,6-dimethyl-4-[4-[4-[2-(4-methylphenoxy)ethyl]piperazin-1-yl]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine, MLS002473459, MLS001030349, 4-(3,4-dihydro-1H-isoquinolin-2-yl)-5H-pyrimido[5,4-b]indole, 4-(3,4-Dihydro-1H-isoquinolin-2-yl)-8-fluoro-5H-pyrimido[5,4-b]indole, 4-[4-(4-methoxyphenyl)piperazino]-5H-pyrimido[5,4-b]indole, 4-[4-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)piperazin-1-yl]-7-methoxy-5H-pyrimido[5,4-b]indole, SMR000044829,8-fluoro-N-(3-propan-2-yloxypropyl)-5H-pyrimido[5,4-b]indol-4-amine, GNF-Pf-1678, MLS003116118, 244-(5-methyl[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-yl)piperazin-1-yl]-1,3-benzothiazole, 5-methyl-3,6-diphenylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-amine, 4-[4-[(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]piperazin-1-yl]-1-[(4-methylphenyl)methyl]pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine, MLS002632722, MLS002477203,MLS003120814, AGN-PC-07AHX3, MLS003120821, MLS003120807, MLS003120811, MLS003120820, ethyl 4-[[1-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-yl]amino]piperidine-1-carboxylate, N-[2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-amine, N-[2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl]-6-methylthieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-amine hydrochloride, N-(1-phenylethyl)quinazolin-4-amine, AG-F-87638, ZINC03428816, CHEMBL493153, ST50323391, N-Benzylquinazolin-4-amine, ST50483228, N-[4-(2-methyl-1-methylsulfonyl-2,3-dihydroindol-5-yl)-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]-2-thiophen-2-ylacetamide, F0558-0175, AC1MLRO7, 4-(2-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)-N-(3-methylphenyl)-1,3-thiazol-2-amine, AGN-PC-09PPXW, Compound 15Jf, AC1MEEXM, ST50941838, [2-[3-carbamoylthiophen-2-yl)amino]-2-oxoethyl] 2-naphthalen-1-ylacetate, F0239-0029, AC1OBZ0O, ST4126227, 1-[(4-bromophenyl)methyl]-2-methylbenzimidazole, SMR000718391, MLS002694437, Chlormidazole, 2-methyl-1-(2-methylbenzyl)-1H-benzimidazole, MLS003119103, Ambcb90456311, AGN-PC-04RX4B, MLS001122505, Ambcb81049924, AGN-PC-04RX7E, Ambcb42757923, MLS001124721, 7-benzyl-4-chloro-5,6-dimethyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine, AGN-PC-04V4GP, MLS000562030, AGN-PC-00YPMB, T5400648, MLS003107990, AC1NUNJE, MLS002701851, SMR000185185, STK850401, [(3-bromobenzyl)sulfanyl][(4-fluorophenyl)amino]methylidene, propanedinitrile, AC1NXBLH, CAS-66-81-9, Cycloheximide, ACTIPHENOL, MLS001032885, MLS000553012, SMR000285129, MLS000688479, MLS002702480, GNF-Pf-4659, MLS002702449, T0501-4035, MLS000712179, AGN-PC-00MQWB, AGN-PC-0NKU3S, T0503-0850, T0501-5798, SMR000212173, 3,3′-Diethylthiazolinocarbocyanine iodide, 2-methyl-3,5-bis(4-methylphenyl)isoxazol-2-ium, MLS000705900, SMR000211540, AGN-PC-00PL3I, AGN-PC-0NJNZK, SMR000354849, T0503-1204, MLS000688685, GNF-Pf-4078, T0503-3525, T0503-4982, T0501-7391, GNF-Pf-3268, TCMDC-125620, 1-[1,1′-Biphenyl]-4-yl-2-(4-imino-1(4H)-pyridinyl)ethanone, SMR000036350, MLS000080109, MLS000080126, Ambcb40308772, MLS000733369, Ambcb20390854, MLS000732313, AGN-PC-04RYS6, Ambcb33735952, AGN-PC-04RYKA, MLS000733096, Ambcb63657849, MLS001090213, T6132867, MLS003678910, AC1OXF5M, SMR000218920, MLS000037490, Boc-KS, MLS000734694, AGN-PC-087SDW, ISUPSL100073, 4-{[5,7-bis(trifluoromethyl) benzenol, BAS 07204618, MLS001144057, MLS001250118, SMR000041809, SMR000635220, MLS003120011, T5546966, 4-chloro-N-(4-chlorobenzyl)-1,3-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide, 3-(Toluene-4-sulfonylmethyl)-2,3-dihydro-benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole, T0508-0735, Carboxyamidotriazole, MLS003116132, F0850-5968, Verrucarin A 9,10-epoxide, MLS002702133, Ossamycin, MLS002702060, Dihydrorotenone, SMR000623161, Pyridaben, ASN 09858385, T6069554, T6302989, SMR000629820, SMR000629835, MLS001028777, MLS001028747, MLS001028806, SMR000625125, T5403634, T5459762, T5626573, T5337170, SMR000093473, T6120097, N-[2-[2-[2,5-dimethyl-1-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)pyrrol-3-yl]-2-oxoethoxy]phenyl]acetamide, MLS000575323, N-[4-[2-[2,5-dimethyl-1-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)pyrrol-3-yl]-2-oxoethyl]sulfanylphenyl]acetamide, SMR000274842, T5565081, 6-chloro-N-[3-[(4-methoxyphenyl)sulfamoyl]phenyl]pyridine-3-carboxamide, N-methyl-N-[(1,3,5-trimethylpyrazol-4-yl)methyl]naphthalene-2-sulfonamide, T6099016, T6094971, ASN 04448329, SMR000241542, AGN-PC-03RL0E, AGN-PC-080KFN, T6151837, AGN-PC-0KIUAY, N-[4-(4-methylphenyl)-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]-1-thiophen-2-ylsulfonylpiperidine-4-carboxamide, 5-(3,5-dimethylpiperidin-1-yl)sulfonyl-N,N-diethyl-3-methyl-1-benzofuran-2-carboxamide, SMR000124769, N-(1-benzylpiperidin-4-yl)-1-(5-chloro-2-methylphenyl)sulfonylpiperidine-4-carboxamide, MLS001095722, 4-ethoxy-N-(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)benzenesulfonamide, 4-chloro-3-ethoxy-N-(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)benzenesulfonamide, 2,4,6-trimethyl-N-(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)benzenesulfonamide, BAS 05598377, 4-bromo-2,5-dimethyl-N-(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)benzenesulfonamide, MLS000735463, MLS000687652, AGN-PC-093SBW, AG-401/42008258, 5L-526S, 2-[[5-(3-chloro-1-benzothiophen-2-yl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl]sulfanyl]acetonitrile, 2-(5-Pyridin-3-yl-[1,3,4]thiadiazol-2-ylsulfanyl)-N-quinolin-4-yl-acetamide, 2-[[5-(benzotriazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl]sulfanyl]-N-[(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]-N-phenylacetamide, 2-[[5-(benzotriazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl]sulfanyl]-N-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-N-phenylacetamide, SR-01000288264, 2-(1-cyclopropyltetrazol-5-yl)sulfanyl-1-[4-[(4-propan-2-ylphenyl)methyl]piperazin-1-yl]ethanone, N-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-4-[5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yl]-1,4-diazepane-1-carbothioamide, T0512-9975, [[2,7-bis(2-morpholin-4-ylethoxy)fluoren-9-ylidene]amino]thiourea, MLS001018548, T0507-0244, 4-(4-acetylphenyl)-N-(4-phenoxyphenyl)piperazine-1-carbothioamide, N-(3-ethoxypropyl)-4-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]piperazine-1-carbothioamide, (+)-Emetine dihydrochloride hydrate, MLS002302684, 4-(6-chloro-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)-N-(2-chloro-6-methylphenyl)-1,4-diazepane-1-carboxamide, N-(3-chloro-2-methylphenyl)-4-(3-phenyl-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-yl)-1,4-diazepane-1-carboxamide, MLS000692856, bjm-csc-19, MLS002701991, and MLS000586514. Additional compounds include 6-formylindolo (3,2-B) carbazole, 4-hydroxyphenylretinamide, 3,5-Dilodo-L-tyrosine, Rifampicin, and Z30972355.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a NR2F6 modulator, such as a NR2F6 inhibitor or NR2F6 activator, for use in the methods described herein. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, the present technology provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a NR2F6 inhibitor or NR2F6 activator in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient or diluent.

In various embodiments, the pharmaceutical compositions herein can be used to inhibit NR2F6; or to activate NR2F6.

In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition is used to treat a disease or a hematopoietic condition as described herein. The NR2F6 inhibitors or NR2F6 activators can be formulated into pharmaceutical compositions for administration to subjects in a biologically compatible form suitable for administration in vivo.

As used herein, “biologically compatible form suitable for administration in vivo” means a form of the substance to be administered in which any toxic effects are outweighed by the therapeutic effects. In various embodiments, the substances herein can be administered to living organisms including humans, and animals. Administration of a therapeutically active amount of the pharmaceutical compositions of the present disclosure is defined as an amount effective, at dosages and for periods of time necessary to achieve the desired result. For example, a therapeutically active amount of a substance can vary according to factors such as the disease state, age, sex, and weight of the individual, and the ability of inhibitor to elicit a desired response in the individual. Dosage regime can be adjusted to provide the optimum therapeutic response. For example, several divided doses can be administered daily or the dose can be proportionally reduced as indicated by the exigencies of the therapeutic situation.

In various embodiments, the active substance can be administered by, e.g., injection (subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, etc.), oral administration, inhalation, intranasal, transdermal or topical administration (such as topical cream or ointment, salve, paste or the like), pulmonary, buccal, subdermal, intradermal, transdermal or parenteral, rectal, subcutaneous, intravenous, intraurethral, intramuscular, ophthalmic or suppository administration. Depending on the route of administration, the active substance can, in certain embodiments, be coated in a material to protect the compound from the action of enzymes, acids and other natural conditions which could inactivate the compound.

In certain embodiments, the active substance can be formulated into delayed release formulations such that NR2F6 can be inhibited or activated for longer periods of time than a conventional formulation.

In certain embodiments, a method herein includes the following steps: (a) extraction of an amount of a patient's cellular material, including, but not limited to: blood, saliva, sweat, or any portion of a tumor known or believed to be in a diseased state; (b) isolating immune cells from the cellular material; (c) inhibiting or activating the NR2F6 target in the extracted immune cells; and (d) re-administering the immune cells (for example, by injection) to the patient's body. This can have the effect of “reprogramming” the immune cells to attack tumors or other invasive cells.

In certain embodiments, other types of a patient's cellular material can also be extracted. These include, for example, any part of the blood (blood serum, red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, platelets), any other material from the body that includes the patient's cells (for example, skin, hair, nails, saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, intracellular fluid, extracellular fluid, intravascular fluid, interstitial fluid, lymphatic fluid, transcellular fluid, exudates, lymph, sweat, sebum or serous fluid). In certain embodiments, the re-administering of the immune cells to the patient's body can be done by injection, introduction through the nose or mouth (for example, inhalation), skin or mucous membranes.

In certain embodiments, the present technology is directed to compounds alone or in combination with another medicament. As set forth herein, compounds herein include stereoisomers (including, e.g., enantiomers, diastereomers, cis-trans and E-Z isomers, conformers and atropisomers), tautomers, solvates, prodrugs, metabolites, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and mixtures thereof Compositions containing a compound herein can be prepared by conventional techniques, and can appear in conventional forms, for example, oral dosage forms; or any ingestible, inhalable (e.g., through the mouth, nose or mucosa); or topical applications, e.g., applicable to the skin, nails, eyes or the like. These can include, in various embodiments, capsules, tablets, pills, cachets, dispersible granules, lozenges, aerosols, solutions, powders, suspensions, emulsions, gels, mousses, foams, drops, lotions, creams, paste, dragees, suppositories and any application deliverable to the body of a user.

In various embodiments, dosages and compounds herein can be prepared and administered in a wide variety of oral, parenteral, and topical dosage forms, including, but not limited to, by injection (e.g., intravenously, intramuscularly, intracutaneously, subcutaneously, intraduodenally, or intraperitoneally); by inhalation (e.g., intranasally); or transdermally. In certain embodiments, multiple routes of administration can be used to optimize delivery of the compounds herein.

In various embodiments, the compositions described herein can be prepared by known methods for the preparation of pharmaceutically acceptable compositions which can be administered to subjects, such that an effective quantity of the active substance is combined in a mixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle. On this basis, the compositions can include, albeit not exclusively, solutions of the substances in association with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable vehicles or diluents, and contained in buffered solutions with a suitable pH and iso-osmotic with the physiological fluids.

In certain embodiments, a powder or tablet according to a dosage form herein can contain about 5 to about 75%, about 10 to about 70%, or about 15 to about 65% of the active compound. Suitable carriers include, but are not limited to: magnesium carbonate, magnesium stearate, talc, sugar, lactose, pectin, dextrin, starch, gelatin, tragacanth, methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, a low melting wax, cocoa butter, and the like.

In various embodiments, carriers for certain dosages can include aqueous solutions of dextrose, saline, water, organic solvents including ethanol, glycerol, propylene glycol, oils including peanut oil or sesame oil; or polyoxyethylene-block polymers. Aqueous solutions or suspensions can be made by dispersing the finely divided active component in water or another solvent with viscous material, such as natural or synthetic gums, resins, methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and other suspending agents.

In various embodiments, the compounds or dosages herein can also be incorporated into liposomes or micelles, or administered via transdermal pumps or patches.

Some compounds may have limited solubility in water and therefore may require a surfactant or other appropriate co-solvent in the composition. Such co-solvents include: Polysorbate 20, 60, and 80; Pluronic F-68, F-84, and P-103; cyclodextrin; and polyoxyl 35 castor oil; and in various embodiments, are present in amounts of about 0.01 to about 10%, about 0.05 to about 5% or about 0.1 to about 3% by weight.

In certain embodiments, it may be desirable to increase the viscosity of the dosage forms herein for ease in dispensing or delivery. Such viscosity building agents include, for example, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, methyl cellulose, hydroxy propyl methylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxy propyl cellulose, chondroitin sulfate and salts thereof, hyaluronic acid and salts thereof, and combinations of the foregoing; and in various embodiments, are present in amounts of about 0.01 to about 10%, about 0.05 to about 5% or about 0.1 to about 3% by weight.

The compositions herein can, in certain embodiments, additionally include components to provide sustained release or comfort. Such components include, but are not limited to, high molecular weight, anionic mucomimetic polymers, gelling polysaccharides, finely-divided drug carrier substrates, emollients, humectants, moisturizers, essential oils, oils, lipids, fatty acids, glycerides, extracts of natural ingredients, soaps and waxes.

Useful Compounds

The present disclosure includes various compounds that were found to be modulators of NR2F6 activity and NR2F6 utilizing compounds, and the immune modulation and modulation of cancer stem cell activity. Exemplary compounds and methods are shown in the attached FIGS. 1-58. These compounds were initially found to be modulators of NR2F6 activity and NR2F6 utilizing compounds, and the immune modulation and modulation of cancer stem cell activity. In various embodiments, the compounds comprise one or more of the following functional groups: a sulfonyl group, a sulfone group R—S(═O)2-R′ where R and R′ are any organic functional groups, a pyrazine group, any phenyl substituted with one or more halogens including chlorine or fluorine; or any composition comprising two or more phenyl constituents. In certain embodiments, a compound herein can be in amorphous form, crystalline form, or a mixture thereof; as well as any polymorph or amorphous form, a solvate, a hydrate or an unsolvated form.

EXAMPLE 1

The methodology for screening candidate compounds as NR2F6 agonists was as follows: For primary screening, hit criteria was ACT %>DMSO control+5*SD (DSO control) at 10 μM, or any compound with S/B>2. For rescreening, hit criteria was ACT %>DMSO control+3*SD (DSO control) in each replicate at 10 μM. For counterscreening, hit criteria was mean ACT<DMSO control+3*SD (DMSO control) with ERα transient transfection in duplicate at 10 μM.

Table 1 shows screening results from a first set of compounds.

TABLE 1 Firefly, cmpd/ Firefly_ERa, Renilla, cmpd/ Renilla_ERa, Com- DMSO cmpd/DMSO DMSO cmpd/DMSO pound repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat I.D. 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 17 2.2 2.4 2.5 2.2 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.0 18 3.8 3.8 2.5 1.9 3.3 4.2 0.8 0.9 19 2.2 1.7 2.3 2.4 1.6 1.7 1.2 1.0 20 2.2 2.1 1.5 1.7 4.4 4.8 1.1 0.9 21 2.4 2.2 1.1 1.0 3.8 3.0 1.1 0.9 22 2.1 2.9 1.5 2.2 1.1 1.3 0.8 1.1 23 3.0 1.9 1.8 1.8 4.6 3.4 1.1 1.2 24 2.0 2.3 1.3 1.6 2.4 2.2 0.9 1.0 25 2.4 1.9 1.3 0.7 3.1 2.1 0.9 1.0 C1 3.4 4.1 1.0 1.0 4.1 1.5 1.3 1.2 C2 2.7 2.2 1.0 0.8 6.0 5.3 1.7 1.6 C3 2.0 2.0 1.8 1.9 1.6 1.2 1.1 1.2 C4 2.5 2.5 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.1 1.2 C5 2.2 1.7 1.6 2.0 1.3 1.4 1.2 1.0 C6 2.6 1.9 2.2 1.4 1.2 0.9 1.0 1.0 C7 2.1 2.1 0.8 0.5 1.1 1.4 0.8 0.8 C8 2.1 2.8 1.2 1.2 3.4 3.1 1.0 1.1 C9 2.7 1.9 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.5 0.9 1.0 C10 2.1 2.6 1.0 1.3 3.1 1.6 0.7 0.8 C11 13.5 12.6 1.7 1.7 3.8 3.3 1.3 1.2 C16 2.7 2.3 1.0 0.9 3.9 3.2 0.9 1.1

C1, C7 and C11 were found to have particularly good activity:

Additional compounds included the following:

Yet additional compounds tested included Compounds 17, 19, 22 and C3-C6:

Compound C11 was found to be particularly promising. FIGS. 16A and 16B show results of cytokins release by hPBMC and cytotox for Compound C11. For cytokines release and cytotox on hPBMCs, the Compound was tested at 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 25 and 50 uM in duplicates. For cytotox on HEK293, HEK293 pGL4 and HEK293 NR2F6 (full length) cmpd was tested from 50 uM with dilution step 3.16 in duplicates.

The human PBMC were activated by 10 ng/mL PMA+500 ng/mL ionomycin. Data were normalized to controls with (100%) w/o compounds.

Compounds related to Compound C11 were further explored, and in particular, Compound C11 was substituted with various moieties to test how this affected its activity.

In certain embodiments, the present technology is directed to compounds of Formula (Ia), (Ib) or (Ic):

wherein any of R, R1 and R2 are C, H, N, O, S, a halogen, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, a cyclic alkyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an ester, an aldehyde, a ketone, a carboxylic acid, an amide, an amine, an ether, a thiol or a nitrile.

In certain embodiments of any of the Formulas (I through XVII) herein, any of R, RA, RB, R1-R8, X, Q, Q1, Q2, or A can be any of the following: Me, OMe, Br, N, H, Cl, F or NO₂. In certain embodiments, any of R, RA, RB, R1-R8, X, Q, Q1, Q2, or A can be any of the following: 4-Me, 4-OMe, 4-Br, 4-t-Bu, 3,4-di-Me, 4-Cl, 3,4-di-Cl, 3-Cl-4-F, 2-F, 3-Cl, 3-CH₃-4-F, 4-iPr, Ph, 4-MeO-C6H4, 4-tBu, 2, 4-diMe, 2-thienyl, 2-MeO-4-Cl, 4-Cl, 2-furayl, 4-F-C6H4, 2,4-diMeC6H3, 3-Me-4-F or 4-Cl-C6H4.

Compounds of Formulas I(a) and I(b) were rescreened in multiple assays to acquire statistical confidence in the results. Results were repeated in follow set screens from fresh powder. Analogs obtained are shown in FIGS. 17B.

Four particularly useful compounds that were all based on C11 (Compounds C12 through C15) were identified as follows:

Activity of the above compounds (C12 through C15) is shown in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Firefly, cmpd/ Renilla, cmpd/ Firefly_pGL, cmpd/ DMSO DMSO DMSO IDNUMBER repeat 1 repeat 2 repeat 1 repeat 2 repeat 1 repeat 2 C12 20.0 16.7 4.5 9.4 2.6 2.9 C11 24.6 21.3 13.9 12.3 3.3 3.3 C13 14.0 12.9 6.4 8.2 3.2 3.2 C14 22.3 20.0 12.1 15.2 2.9 2.6 C15 0.9 1.7 5.8 10.7 1.2 1.7

Further compounds related to the Compound C11 and the compound of Formulas (Ia) (Ib) or (Ic) were tested. These include the following:

Further results of the testing of these compounds are shown in the tables below. Each compound shows results based on the different identities of the R1 moiety.

For example, compounds of Formula (Ia) and (Ib) were tested with different moieties as R1, and the results are shown below in Table 3:

TABLE 3 Firefly, cmpd/ Renilla, cmpd/ Firefly_pGL, ID DMSO DMSO cmpd/DMSO NUM- repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat BER R1 1 2 1 2 1 2 C100 4-CH3 2.0 1.9 1.6 1.3 1.3 1.1 C101 4-OMe 4.5 4.7 1.8 2.0 1.2 1.3 C102 4-Br 13.0 15.3 5.8 6.1 2.3 2.5 C103 4-t-Bu 2.8 1.4 1.9 1.7 1.3 1.4 C104 3,4-di-Me 3.1 4.4 1.7 1.8 2.3 1.2 C105 4-Cl 5.7 4.8 1.7 2.3 1.5 1.8 C106 3,4-di-Cl 1.4 1.3 1.8 5.8 1.0 1.1 C107 3-Cl-4-F 11.0 11.0 8.7 6.5 1.7 2.1 C108 2-F 7.9 7.3 3.0 2.8 1.3 1.5 C109 3-Cl 9.2 10.3 3.4 3.3 3.5 3.4 C110 3-CH3-4-F 7.6 7.2 2.3 2.1 1.7 2.0

In further embodiments, the present technology is directed to compounds of Formula (II):

wherein any of R1 and R2 are C, H, N, O, S, a halogen, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, a cyclic alkyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an ester, an aldehyde, a ketone, a carboxylic acid, an amide, an amine, an ether, a thiol or a nitrile.

In certain embodiments, any of R1 and R2 can be any of the moieties listed below in Tables 4 and 5. Various compounds of Formula (II) were tested with different moieties as R1 and R2, and the results are shown below in Tables 4 and 5:

TABLE 4 Firefly, cmpd/ Renilla, cmpd/ Firefly_pGL, ID DMSO DMSO cmpd/DMSO NUMBER R2 R1 repeat 1 repeat 2 repeat 1 repeat 2 repeat 1 repeat 2 C111 PhCH2CH2 H 29.8 35.9 29.4 30.8 3.7 3.9 C112 PhCH2CH2 4-CH3 11.7 10.1 5.6 5.1 2.5 2.8 C113 PhCH2CH2 4-F 5.8 7.0 10.2 10.8 2.2 3.2 C114 PhCH2Ch2 4-Cl 4.5 4.7 4.0 2.9 2.3 1.6 C115 PhCH2 H 6.8 21.9 4.8 10.9 6.2 7.2 C116 4-CH3C6H4CH2 4-Cl 8.6 9.0 9.8 9.9 2.1 2.0 C117 4-OMeC6H4CH2 4-F 17.3 24.1 28.1 35.6 3.9 4.5 C118 4-F-C6H4CH2 4-F 13.5 17.1 11.8 14.8 2.4 2.7 C119 4-F-C6H4CH2 4-Cl 18.4 16.2 27.8 27.6 2.0 2.2 C120 2-CF3C6H4 4-F 4.5 6.3 15.2 18.6 2.9 3.3 C121 3,4-di-MeO-C6H3 4-CH3 9.0 21.5 18.6 40.1 9.1 8.8 C122 3,4-di-MeO-C6H3 4-Cl 4.4 5.7 14.8 12.8 5.3 4.8 C123 2-MeO-C6H4 H 17.7 16.8 31.9 31.7 8.2 10.6 C124 2-MeO-C6H4 4-F 25.5 29.8 50.0 51.4 6.6 6.7 C125 2-MeO-C6H4 4-Cl 28.0 24.5 30.4 33.8 2.5 2.7 C126 3-MeO-C6H4 4-CH3 45.1 44.8 43.5 42.2 4.8 4.3 C127 3-MeO-C6H4 4-F 36.7 56.2 43.1 43.5 8.3 8.0 C128 3-Cl-C6H4 4-F 1.7 5.2 1.7 10.1 4.4 5.4 C129 4-Cl-C6H4 4-F 0.9 1.2 1.0 0.7 3.3 4.5 C130 3.5-di-MeO-C6H3 H 2.3 3.4 2.2 6.4 6.4 10.2 C131 3.5-di-MeO-C6H3 4-CH3 9.5 15.3 30.8 38.2 4.8 4.7 C132 3.5-di-MeO-C6H3 4-F 1.4 1.4 6.7 2.4 4.3 6.8 C133 3.5-di-MeO-C6H3 4-Cl 2.1 4.3 9.9 12.6 3.2 2.6 C134 2,3-di-MeC6H3 4-CH3 38.1 31.9 21.0 18.9 3.7 5.4 C135 2,3-di-MeC6H3 4-F 5.6 4.9 19.8 18.6 1.9 3.1 C136 2,3-di-MeC6H3 4-Cl 22.1 25.8 12.5 14.9 2.9 3.0

TABLE 5 Firefly, cmpd/ Renilla, cmpd/ Firefly_pGL, ID DMSO DMSO cmpd/DMSO NUMBER R2 R1 repeat 1 repeat 2 repeat 1 repeat 2 repeat 1 repeat 2 C159 4-F-C6H4 4-F 0.9 1.2 0.1 0.3 1.8 2.4 C160 2-me-C6H4 4-F 22.9 20.2 9.5 8.2 3.2 2.7 C161 4-Me-C6H4 H 35.4 39.0 28.6 27.7 4.0 5.1 C162 4-Me-C6H4 4-CH3 20.9 20.6 37.9 35.8 3.7 4.1 C163 4-Me-C6H4 4-F 2.0 5.2 6.9 15.8 5.5 5.0 C164 2,4-di-MeC6H3 H 29.3 19.6 13.8 8.9 3.1 2.8 C165 2,4-di-MeC6H3 4-CH3 4.2 4.0 4.7 4.6 1.4 1.4 C166 2,4-di-MeC6H3 4-Cl 3.4 4.2 2.9 2.9 1.4 1.7 C167 3,4-di-MeC6H3 H 1.0 0.7 0.2 0.2 0.9 0.9 C168 3,4-di-MeC6H3 4-CH3 11.8 11.4 14.8 14.0 2.4 1.6 C169 3,4-di-MeC6H3 4-F 8.8 10.6 9.9 10.9 2.0 1.9 C170 3,4-di-MeC6H3 4-Cl 1.7 1.6 0.2 0.3 0.7 1.0 C171 3-MeC6H4 4-CH3 6.4 4.2 15.4 9.8 2.0 2.3 C172 3-MeC6H4 4-F 30.4 32.8 44.9 37.0 3.5 4.7 C173 3-MeC6H4 4-Cl 9.8 6.9 19.8 19.5 2.3 2.4 C174 3,5-di-MeC6H3 H 5.8 14.3 16.0 28.3 4.3 6.0 C175 3,5-di-MeC6H3 4-CH3 13.2 11.9 10.5 12.0 2.5 1.9 C176 3,5-di-MeC6H3 4-F 3.7 9.6 19.0 29.1 3.9 3.8 C177 4-MeOC6H4 H 17.4 8.2 6.7 4.6 1.7 1.3 C178 4-MeOC6H4 4-CH3 15.2 16.9 27.7 28.2 3.5 4.4 C179 4-MeOC6H4 4-F 8.7 10.1 11.9 10.5 2.4 2.5 C180 4-MeOC6H4 4-Cl 34.0 34.5 30.9 30.0 2.5 2.7 C181 2-EtOC6H4 4-F 10.4 13.5 14.6 21.4 2.2 1.7

In further embodiments, the present technology is direct to compounds of Formula (III):

wherein any of Q and R1 are C, H, N, O, S, a halogen, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, a cyclic alkyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an ester, an aldehyde, a ketone, a carboxylic acid, an amide, an amine, an ether, a thiol or a nitrile.

Various compounds of Formula (III) were tested with different moieties as R1 and Q, and t. These include the following:

The results of the tests are shown below in Tables 6-8:

TABLE 6 Firefly_ Firefly, Renilla, pGL, cmpd/ cmpd/ cmpd/ ID DMSO DMSO DMSO NUM- repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat BER Q R1 1 2 1 2 1 2 C182 Cl 3-F 16.2 17.3 15.1 13.2 2.0 2.1 C183 Br 3-F 1.2 1.2 3.1 2.4 1.1 1.2 C184 Cl 3-MeO 1.1 1.4 1.2 1.8 0.9 1.1 C185 Br 3-MeO 2.6 2.4 0.1 0.3 0.8 1.2 C186 Cl 3,5-diMe 1.0 6.9 0.4 18.8 1.2 1.7 C187 Br 3,5-diMe 0.8 0.7 1.0 0.8 0.9 1.1 C188 Cl 3-Cl-4-Me 9.4 8.7 7.6 6.9 1.8 1.8 C189 Br 3-Cl-4-Me 2.8 2.2 2.7 2.4 1.2 1.1 C190 F 3,5-diMe 2.1 2.5 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.1 C191 Cl 3-Cl 8.6 12.8 35.8 30.6 1.7 2.2 C192 Br 3-Cl 1.8 2.4 9.6 9.5 1.7 2.0 C193 Br 3,5-diF 1.8 1.9 6.5 14.6 1.5 1.8 C194 Cl 3,5-diF 10.6 6.3 7.2 6.2 1.3 1.3 C195 Cl 3-CN 38.7 29.4 22.8 10.1 3.7 5.1 C196 Br 3-CN 3.8 3.4 13.6 18.8 2.3 2.9 C197 Br 4-Me 17.6 14.8 16.1 13.7 2.6 2.5 C198 Br 4-F 1.0 0.8 8.8 5.3 1.2 1.1 C199 Br 4-MeO 19.3 16.1 25.9 23.2 2.2 2.9 C200 Br 4-t-Bu 11.0 8.1 5.8 10.4 1.6 1.9 C201 Cl H 6.1 5.3 8.8 8.2 1.8 2.4 C202 Cl 4-Me 15.7 14.1 8.3 8.9 2.6 2.3 C203 Cl 4-MeO 9.5 15.5 20.2 22.8 2.1 2.7 C204 Cl 4-Br 5.0 5.8 28.9 27.9 1.5 1.8 C205 Cl 4-t-Bu 6.9 6.0 9.7 8.8 1.5 1.4 C206 MeO H 2.1 1.8 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.4 C207 MeO 4-MeO 2.5 2.8 1.2 0.7 1.5 1.4 C208 MeO 4-Br 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.0 C209 MeO 4-t-Bu 3.1 4.2 0.9 1.1 1.3 1.1 C210 NO2 H 22.8 14.3 15.0 9.8 2.4 2.1 C211 NO2 4-Me 5.8 17.7 18.1 18.9 3.3 4.0

TABLE 7 Firefly, Renilla, Firefly_pGL, cmpd/ cmpd/ cmpd/ ID DMSO DMSO DMSO NUM- repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat BER Q R1 1 2 1 2 1 2 C137 NO2 4-F 22.6 23.4 17.6 15.7 2.7 2.9 C138 NO2 4-Br 10.0 16.6 18.3 18.7 2.9 2.8 C139 NO2 4-t-Bu 6.6 6.4 7.0 6.7 1.4 1.8 C140 Cl 4-i-Pr 12.8 12.0 12.4 11.8 2.4 2.6 C141 MeO 4-i-Pr 1.6 1.6 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.1 C142 Br 3,4-diMe 1.2 1.7 1.4 9.8 1.1 1.6 C143 Cl 3,4-diMe 15.2 14.5 19.0 17.7 2.6 2.4 C144 MeO 3,4-diMe 0.9 0.8 3.4 1.1 1.0 0.9 C145 NO2 3,4-diMe 11.2 24.4 20.5 20.5 3.3 3.5 C146 Br 4-Cl 1.5 0.9 0.6 3.2 0.8 1.2 C147 Cl 4-Cl 2.6 2.9 1.8 5.0 1.5 1.4 C148 MeO 4-Cl 1.0 0.9 0.6 1.3 1.1 1.0 C149 NO2 4-Cl 7.8 15.3 15.3 19.7 2.7 2.3 C150 Br 3,4-diCl 8.5 7.9 12.2 11.5 1.7 1.7 C151 Cl 3,4-diCl 3.6 5.5 15.1 15.3 1.1 1.3 C152 OMe 3,4-di-Cl 4.5 3.1 4.4 4.2 1.3 1.1 C153 NO2 3,4-diCl 6.5 9.0 13.6 16.2 1.3 1.6 C154 Br 3,4-diMeO 35.4 35.4 25.6 19.5 4.0 3.8 C155 Cl 3,4-diMeO 37.3 33.3 19.3 15.4 3.5 3.0 C156 MeO 3,4-diMeO 1.0 1.0 0.9 1.0 1.0 1.0 C157 NO2 3,4-diMeO 24.9 20.4 6.9 6.0 2.3 2.1 C158 MeO 3-Cl-4-F 1.5 1.2 2.7 2.4 1.1 1.2

TABLE 8 Firefly, Renilla, Firefly_pGL, cmpd/ cmpd/ cmpd/ ID DMSO DMSO DMSO NUM- repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat BER Q R1 1 2 1 2 1 2 C212 F H 1.7 1.9 1.7 1.7 1.0 1.4 C213 F 4-F 14.0 13.6 9.0 8.1 1.2 1.7 C214 F 4-MeO 1.9 1.9 1.7 1.7 1.0 1.4 C215 F 4-Br 11.6 13.8 14.8 15.1 2.1 2.2 C216 F 4-t-Bu 1.3 1.0 1.3 1.0 1.3 1.2 C217 F 3-CH3-4-F 1.8 1.4 1.8 1.5 0.9 1.4 C218 F 4-Cl 18.2 19.1 11.9 10.2 1.9 2.0 C219 Br 2-F 1.3 2.5 8.7 23.5 2.0 2.3 C220 Cl 2-F 10.4 6.5 8.1 6.7 1.3 1.5 C221 MeO 2-F 1.3 0.9 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.7 C222 MeO 3-Cl 4.5 3.7 2.3 1.8 1.0 1.3 C223 Br 3-CH3-4-F 4.5 5.1 3.7 5.9 1.9 1.4 C224 Cl 3-CH3-4-F 6.6 11.4 18.2 26.9 2.8 3.1 C225 MeO 3-CH3-4-F 1.5 3.1 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.5

In further embodiments, the present technology is directed to compounds of Formula (IV):

wherein any of Q and R1 are C, H, N, O, S, a halogen, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, a cyclic alkyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an ester, an aldehyde, a ketone, a carboxylic acid, an amide, an amine, an ether, a thiol or a nitrile.

Various compounds of Formula (IV) were tested with different moieties as Q and R1. These included the following:

The results are shown below in Table 9:

TABLE 9 Firefly, Renilla, Firefly_pGL, cmpd/ cmpd/ cmpd/ ID DMSO DMSO DMSO NUM- repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat BER Q R1 1 2 1 2 1 2 C226 OMe 3-OMe 1.1 1.0 0.5 1.1 1.2 1.3 C227 OMe 3,5-di-Me 1.0 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.1 C228 OMe 3-Cl-4-Me 1.0 1.3 2.2 2.1 1.1 1.0 C229 OMe 3,5-di-F 2.9 1.8 1.5 1.3 1.2 0.8 C230 OEt 3,5-di-F 12.5 8.3 4.5 3.8 1.8 1.5 C231 OMe 4-Me 0.7 0.9 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.0 C232 OMe 4-OMe 1.0 0.9 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.9 C233 OMe 4-Br 2.8 2.1 1.1 1.3 1.3 1.2 C234 OMe 4-t-Bu 2.2 1.8 4.3 2.7 1.0 1.1 C235 OMe H 1.0 1.2 1.0 1.1 1.0 0.9 C236 OEt CH3 4.4 4.9 3.1 3.2 1.6 1.6 C237 OEt 4-F 3.5 2.9 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.3 C238 OEt 4-OMe 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.0 1.3 1.2 C239 OEt 4-Br 1.4 2.2 8.4 17.2 1.2 1.1 C240 OEt 4-t-Bu 1.5 0.9 1.5 1.5 0.9 1.1 C241 OMe 4-i-Pr 2.1 2.7 1.5 1.9 1.2 1.8 C242 OMe 3,4-di-Me 1.1 1.1 0.9 1.1 1.1 1.1 C243 OEt 3,4-di-Me 2.0 3.3 2.3 2.3 1.4 1.9 C244 OEt 4-Cl 9.7 14.1 19.8 18.4 1.7 1.9 C245 OMe 3,4-di-Cl 1.9 1.3 1.7 1.8 1.1 1.3 C246 OEt 3,4-di-Cl 7.4 6.5 7.6 8.4 1.6 1.9 C247 OMe 3,4-di-OMe 2.2 1.6 1.7 1.5 1.3 1.1 C248 OEt 3,4-di-OMe 8.6 4.3 2.8 1.9 1.4 1.4 C249 OMe 2,5-di-OMe 1.4 1.5 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.3 C250 OMe 3-Cl-4-F 1.2 1.8 1.7 1.9 1.1 1.1 C251 OEt 3-Cl-4-F 2.1 1.9 2.4 2.0 1.0 0.9 C252 OEt 4-OEt 3.2 2.4 1.4 1.6 1.4 1.3 C253 OMe 2-F 2.5 2.7 1.5 1.2 1.3 1.2 C254 OEt 2-F 7.6 5.1 2.7 2.5 1.5 1.4 C255 OMe 3-Cl 1.5 1.5 1.2 1.1 1.3 1.0 C256 OEt 3-Cl 11.5 7.9 5.1 3.5 2.0 2.4 C257 OMe 3-Me-4-F 2.1 1.6 1.2 1.1 0.8 1.0 C258 OEt 3-Me-4-F 1.5 1.8 1.3 1.5 1.3 1.5

In further embodiments, the present technology is directed to compounds of Formula (V):

wherein any of A and R1 are C, H, N, O, S, a halogen, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, a cyclic alkyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an ester, an aldehyde, a ketone, a carboxylic acid, an amide, an amine, an ether, a thiol or a nitrile.

Various compounds of Formula (V) were tested with different moieties as A and R1, and the results are shown below in Table 10:

TABLE 10 Firefly, Renilla, Firefly_pGL, cmpd/ cmpd/ cmpd/ ID DMSO DMSO DMSO NUM- repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat BER A R 1 2 1 2 1 2 C259 OMe 3-OMe 1.3 1.9 1.2 1.2 0.9 1.1 C260 OMe 3,5-di-Me 1.0 1.0 1.4 1.3 1.0 1.1 C261 OMe 3-Cl-4-CH3 2.0 1.4 1.7 1.5 0.9 1.2 C262 OMe 3,5-di-F 1.8 2.2 1.4 1.2 1.4 1.3 C263 OMe 3-CN 1.8 1.7 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.0 C264 OMe H 1.1 0.8 1.2 1.2 0.9 1.0 C265 OMe CH3 1.0 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.1 C266 OMe OMe 0.9 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.0 1.0 C267 OMe 4-Br 1.4 1.7 2.5 1.2 1.2 1.6 C268 OMe 4-t-Bu 2.8 3.1 1.3 2.1 0.9 1.2 C269 OMe 4-t-Pr 3.0 3.0 1.5 1.4 1.2 1.0 C270 OMe 3,4-di-Me 3.2 3.1 2.2 1.8 1.3 1.2 C271 OMe 4-Cl 2.2 1.2 2.3 2.1 1.6 1.6 C272 OMe 3,4-di-Cl 4.5 3.1 4.4 4.2 1.3 1.1 C273 OH H 2.0 1.5 1.6 2.0 1.0 1.2 C274 OMe 3,4-di-OMe 3.3 3.5 1.2 1.5 1.6 1.2 C275 OMe 3-Cl-4-F 2.6 2.5 2.3 1.9 1.2 1.3 C276 OH 3-Cl-4-F 1.2 1.3 2.3 1.9 0.9 1.0 C277 NEt2 4-Me 3.4 2.9 1.5 0.9 1.0 1.3 C278 NEt2 4-Br 2.4 3.0 1.5 1.7 1.0 1.2 C279 NEt2 4-Cl 3.9 2.1 1.4 1.6 0.9 0.9 C280 OMe 2-F 0.6 0.6 1.4 1.4 0.9 1.2 C281 OMe 3-Cl 3.0 4.4 1.8 1.9 1.4 1.3 C282 OMe 3-CH3-4-F 0.7 1.1 1.5 1.7 1.4 2.0

In further embodiments, the present technology is directed to compounds of Formula (VI):

wherein any of Q1, Q2 and R1 are C, H, N, O, S, a halogen, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, a cyclic alkyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an ester, an aldehyde, a ketone, a carboxylic acid, an amide, an amine, an ether, a thiol or a nitrile.

Various compounds of Formula (VI) were tested with different moieties as Q1 and Q2. These included the following:

The results are shown below in Table 11:

TABLE 11 Firefly_ Firefly, Renilla, pGL, cmpd/ cmpd/ cmpd/ ID DMSO DMSO DMSO NUM- repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat BER Q1 Q2 R1 1 2 1 2 1 2 C283 Br Br OMe 1.0 1.3 0.1 0.2 1.0 0.9 C284 Br Br 4-i-Pr 2.9 2.5 0.4 0.3 0.9 1.0 C285 Br Br 3,4-di-Me 1.0 1.0 0.1 0.6 1.0 1.2 C286 Br Br 4-Cl 2.3 2.4 0.3 0.9 0.8 1.1 C287 Br Br 3,4-di-Cl 3.0 2.6 2.9 2.5 1.1 1.5 C288 F F H 6.8 3.3 4.4 3.3 1.6 1.4 C289 F F OMe 31.3 15.6 13.5 10.0 1.7 1.3 C290 F F 4-Br 13.8 14.6 21.6 17.1 2.0 1.8 C291 F F 4-t-Bu 0.9 0.8 0.1 0.2 0.7 0.7 C292 F F 3-Me-4-F 18.3 14.8 15.6 13.4 1.7 1.7 C293 F F 4-Cl 8.5 11.9 27.8 21.2 2.1 1.7 C294 Br OMe H 16.5 16.5 36.0 27.5 2.4 2.9 C295 Br OMe 4-F 4.0 4.6 4.3 3.6 1.8 1.6 C296 Br OMe 4-OMe 6.0 7.8 14.9 14.1 2.2 2.0 C297 Br OMe 4-t-Bu 1.5 2.6 2.0 6.9 1.4 1.3 C298 Br OMe 3-Me-4-F 2.2 3.2 1.9 1.9 1.3 1.4

In certain embodiments, the technology is directed to compounds of Formulas (VII) or (VIII):

wherein any of X and R is: C, H, N, O, S, a halogen, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, a cyclic alkyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an ester, an aldehyde, a ketone, a carboxylic acid, and amide, an amine, an ether, a thiol or a nitrile; and wherein n is an integer 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. In certain embodiments, the X-R moiety represents a benzene ring fused to the n-membered ring containing the N substitution, to create a bicyclic functional group; see, e.g., Compounds F41 through F47 below.

Exemplary compounds in accordance with these Formulas include the following:

Further exemplary compounds tested in accordance with the various Formulas disclosed herein include the following:

Tables 12 and 13 show a summary of selected compounds for CRC analysis.

TABLE 12 Firefly, cmpd/DMSO Renilla, cmpd/DMSO Firefly_pGL, cmpd/DMSO Firefly/Renilla Firefly, ID repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat (NR2F6 stable, NR2F6 stable NUMBER 1 2 1 2 1 2 clone F4) (clone F4)/pGL4 C289 31.3 15.6 13.5 10.0 1.7 1.3 2.0 15.3 C155 37.3 33.3 19.3 15.4 3.5 3.0 2.0 10.9 C157 24.9 20.4 6.9 6.0 2.3 2.1 3.5 10.2 C299 21.5 15.2 5.5 3.8 1.8 1.8 4.0 10.1 C218 18.2 19.1 11.9 10.2 1.9 2.0 1.7 9.5 C177 17.4 8.2 6.7 4.6 1.7 1.3 2.3 8.5 C164 29.3 19.6 13.8 8.9 3.1 2.8 2.1 8.2 C136 22.1 25.8 12.5 14.9 2.9 3.0 1.7 8.1 C134 38.1 31.9 21.0 18.9 3.7 5.4 1.8 7.7 C195 38.7 29.4 22.8 10.1 3.7 5.1 2.1 7.7 C160 22.9 20.2 9.5 8.2 3.2 2.7 2.4 7.2 C11 24.6 21.3 13.9 12.3 3.3 3.3 1.8 7.0 C12 20.0 16.7 4.5 9.4 2.6 2.9 2.6 6.6 C230 12.5 8.3 4.5 3.8 1.8 1.5 2.5 6.5 C202 15.7 14.1 8.3 8.9 2.6 2.3 1.7 6.1 C102 13.0 15.3 5.8 6.1 2.3 2.5 2.4 5.9 C108 7.9 7.3 3.0 2.8 1.3 1.5 2.6 5.5 C248 8.6 4.3 2.8 1.9 1.4 1.4 2.8 4.6 C256 11.5 7.9 5.1 3.5 2.0 2.4 2.3 4.5 C254 7.6 5.1 2.7 2.5 1.5 1.4 2.4 4.4 C13 14.0 12.9 6.4 8.2 3.2 3.2 1.8 4.2 C112 11.7 10.1 5.6 5.1 2.5 2.8 2.0 4.1 C110 7.6 7.2 2.3 2.1 1.7 2.0 3.3 3.9 F312-0003 4.6 4.2 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.3 4.0 3.7 C101 4.5 4.7 1.8 2.0 1.2 1.3 2.4 3.6

TABLE 13 Firefly, cmpd/DMSO Renilla, cmpd/DMSO Firefly_pGL, cmpd/DMSO Firefly/Renilla Firefly, ID repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat (NR2F6 stable, NR2F6 stable NUMBER 1 2 1 2 1 2 clone F4) (clone F4)/pGL4 C222 4.5 3.7 2.3 1.8 1.0 1.3 2.0 3.6 C105 5.7 4.8 1.7 2.3 1.5 1.8 2.6 3.1 C209 3.1 4.2 0.9 1.1 1.3 1.1 3.6 3.1 C109 9.2 10.3 3.4 3.3 3.5 3.4 2.9 2.9 C213 14.0 13.6 9.0 8.1 1.2 1.7 1.6 9.6 C300 9.8 7.4 6.2 4.7 1.7 2.3 1.6 4.3 C154 35.4 35.4 25.6 19.5 4.0 3.8 1.6 9.1 C14 22.3 20.0 12.1 15.2 2.9 2.6 1.5 7.6 C210 22.8 14.3 15.0 9.8 2.4 2.1 1.5 8.2 C107 11.0 11.0 8.7 6.5 1.7 2.1 1.4 5.8 C137 22.6 23.4 17.6 15.7 2.7 2.9 1.4 8.4 C161 35.4 39.0 28.6 27.7 4.0 5.1 1.3 8.1 C194 10.6 6.3 7.2 6.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 6.6 C188 9.4 8.7 7.6 6.9 1.8 1.8 1.2 5.0 C182 16.2 17.3 15.1 13.2 2.0 2.1 1.2 8.2 C200 11.0 8.1 5.8 10.4 1.6 1.9 1.2 5.4 C220 10.4 6.5 8.1 6.7 1.3 1.5 1.1 6.2 C118 13.5 17.1 11.8 14.8 2.4 2.7 1.1 5.9 C292 18.3 14.8 15.6 13.4 1.7 1.7 1.1 9.7 C180 34.0 34.5 30.9 30.0 2.5 2.7 1.1 13.1 C175 13.2 11.9 10.5 12.0 2.5 1.9 1.1 5.7 C111 29.8 35.9 29.4 30.8 3.7 3.9 1.1 8.7 C197 17.6 14.8 16.1 13.7 2.6 2.5 1.1 6.3 C127 36.7 56.2 43.1 43.5 8.3 8.0 1.1 5.7 C126 45.1 44.8 43.5 42.2 4.8 4.3 1.0 9.9

TABLE 14 Firefly Renilla Compound F4, cmpd/DMSO (mean) pGL4, cmpd/DMSO (mean) F4, cmpd/DMSO (mean) ID 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM 17 1.3 1.2 1.9 1.3 1.6 1.7 1.0 1.0 0.8 19 0.5 1.0 1.7 0.9 1.3 1.9 0.6 1.0 1.1 22 0.6 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.0 1.6 1.0 1.1 0.8 C1 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.2 0.2 2.1 C3 0.9 1.1 1.5 1.0 1.3 1.1 0.9 0.9 1.0 C4 0.7 0.8 1.1 1.3 0.9 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.6 C5 0.8 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.2 1.3 1.1 0.5 0.7 C6 0.4 0.6 1.4 1.0 1.3 1.3 0.5 0.6 0.7 C301 1.0 1.0 1.2 1.1 1.6 2.4 1.0 0.7 1.1 C302 0.9 0.9 1.2 0.8 1.4 1.8 1.0 1.1 0.7 C303 0.9 0.9 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.0 0.8 1.0 C7 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.4 0.3 1.0 C11 0.4 1.6 1.7 0.8 1.7 1.1 0.2 1.2 1.1 E12 0.5 0.9 0.7 1.0 0.8 0.9 1.0 0.7 0.7 E53 1.4 1.1 1.0 1.6 1.4 1.5 1.1 0.8 0.9 L1 0.5 0.5 0.9 0.8 0.4 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.8 Z54 0.6 1.6 0.8 0.8 1.9 1.1 0.2 0.3 0.7 Z55 2.0 0.8 1.1 2.3 0.7 0.8 0.1 0.3 0.8 Z56 0.5 2.1 1.2 1.2 8.9 1.2 0.2 0.3 0.9 Z74 0.7 0.5 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.3 0.2 0.8 Z79 0.3 0.5 0.9 0.8 0.5 0.8 0.2 0.6 0.9 Z81 0.4 0.7 2.4 0.7 0.9 1.4 0.3 0.3 1.1 Z83 0.7 0.6 1.2 0.5 0.9 1.0 0.3 0.8 1.0 Z90 0.4 2.5 0.7 0.7 2.4 0.7 0.1 0.2 0.9 Z91 1.3 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.0 1.0 0.8 1.1 1.1

Additional compounds were tested, including the following:

Compounds Z54, Z55 and Z56 were found to have particularly good activity:

Table 15 shows screening results from another set of compounds.

TABLE 15 Firefly Renilla ERalpha transient, ERalpha transient, Compound F4, cmpd/DMSO (mean) cmpd/DMSO (mean) F4, cmpd/DMSO (mean) cmpd/DMSO (mean) ID 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM Z1 0.8 1.8 1.9 0.9 2.2 2.4 0.8 1.6 1.3 0.7 1.0 1.1 Z2 0.6 1.9 1.4 0.7 1.1 1.6 1.2 1.8 1.2 1.0 1.1 1.2 Z3 1.6 1.1 1.5 1.7 2.6 2.2 0.9 1.4 1.5 0.9 1.0 1.1 Z4 0.8 1.2 1.5 0.8 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.6 1.1 0.8 1.1 1.2 Z5 1.2 0.9 1.5 2.4 2.5 2.4 1.2 0.9 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 Z6 1.1 1.4 1.4 1.1 2.2 2.0 0.9 1.1 1.1 0.9 1.1 1.1 Z7 1.0 1.2 0.9 1.5 2.0 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.3 1.0 1.1 1.1 Z8 0.7 4.0 2.6 0.4 2.4 2.2 0.2 9.1 2.7 0.1 1.4 1.4 Z9 1.2 6.7 2.5 0.5 2.7 2.2 0.3 4.9 2.1 0.2 0.8 1.3 Z10 0.7 1.6 5.8 0.5 1.5 4.2 0.3 3.3 3.4 0.2 0.8 1.3 Z11 0.5 1.2 3.5 0.6 1.6 2.1 0.3 2.6 2.9 0.2 0.8 1.4 Z12 0.4 1.8 3.9 0.4 1.3 2.4 0.4 2.7 2.7 0.2 0.7 1.3 Z13 1.6 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.7 1.2 0.4 0.7 0.8 0.4 0.6 0.8 Z14 1.2 0.8 1.2 1.0 1.2 1.0 1.0 0.9 0.8 1.0 1.1 1.1 Z15 0.9 0.5 1.0 1.1 1.1 0.9 1.0 1.1 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.0 Z58 0.8 4.5 0.9 0.8 6.5 1.5 0.8 1.2 1.3 0.7 1.1 1.2 Z17 0.6 6.5 1.5 2.9 9.5 1.7 0.6 1.1 1.2 0.6 1.1 1.3 Z61 0.8 2.5 1.7 0.7 9.1 3.0 0.6 0.5 1.3 0.7 0.8 1.4 Z19 0.7 6.3 1.3 0.7 12.7 1.9 0.7 0.9 1.1 0.6 1.0 1.5 Z67 0.7 0.5 1.3 0.5 1.4 1.4 0.6 1.0 1.2 0.6 1.0 1.1 Z68 1.2 1.1 1.5 0.7 1.5 1.1 0.6 1.0 0.9 0.6 0.9 1.1 Z70 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.5 1.1 0.9 1.3 1.3 0.8 1.2 1.0 1.1 Z71 0.8 1.0 0.8 0.4 1.0 1.4 0.4 0.9 1.1 0.5 1.0 1.0 Z75 0.8 1.2 0.9 0.9 1.9 1.1 0.8 1.0 1.1 0.7 0.9 1.0 Z76 0.8 1.8 0.8 0.7 1.9 1.3 0.5 0.8 1.0 0.4 0.8 1.1 Z78 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.1 2.4 1.5 0.8 1.0 1.1 0.6 0.9 1.0

Compounds Z8-Z12, Z17 and Z19 were found to have particularly good activity.

Dog's PMBC ELISA and cytotoxicity experiments were performed on Compound Z92, which also showed good activity. Results are shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B.

Another useful compound is Compound Z95:

Results of testing done on compound Z95 are shown in Table 16.

TABLE 16 NR2F6_full (stable, clone F4), cmpd/DMSO NR2F6_full (transient), cmpd/DMSO Firefly Renilla Firefly Renilla ID 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM Z95 3.7 2.2 1.2 0.5 0.5 1.1 2.3 1.3 1.2 0.2 0.4 1.1

FIGS. 20A and 20B show further results of cytokines release by hPBMC and cytotox on Compound Z95.

Table 17 shows screening results from another set of compounds.

TABLE 17 Firefly Renilla ERalpha transient, ERalpha transient, Compound F4, cmpd/DMSO (mean) cmpd/DMSO (mean) F4,cmpd/DMSO (mean) cmpd/DMSO (mean) ID 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM Z27 0.7 1.3 1.3 0.5 2.1 1.3 0.9 1.2 1.2 0.8 1.2 1.2 Z28 1.3 0.9 1.0 1.3 1.1 1.8 1.2 1.2 1.0 1.0 1.3 1.1 Z29 1.1 1.1 1.3 6.7 1.2 1.0 0.5 0.9 0.8 0.7 1.2 0.8 Z30 1.2 1.1 1.4 1.4 1.1 1.4 0.7 1.1 1.1 1.6 1.1 1.1 Z31 1.1 0.9 0.8 1.3 1.6 0.9 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.0 Z32 1.5 0.9 1.8 1.5 0.8 1.8 1.3 1.0 1.0 0.8 1.1 1.0 Z33 6.6 2.0 1.7 8.8 1.8 2.1 0.6 1.0 1.1 0.9 1.5 1.0 Z34 0.7 3.8 1.6 0.9 10.3 2.0 0.6 0.8 1.2 0.7 1.0 1.5 Z35 1.2 1.5 1.9 7.2 2.2 2.6 0.7 2.0 1.1 0.9 1.3 1.1 Z36 0.7 1.8 0.7 5.8 1.6 1.2 0.6 1.8 1.0 0.8 1.6 1.2 Z37 0.7 1.4 1.0 1.2 1.5 1.1 0.5 0.9 1.0 0.7 1.7 1.0 Z38 0.6 0.8 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.9 0.4 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.9 Z39 0.7 1.0 0.8 0.8 0.5 1.2 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.6 0.6 1.1 Z40 0.8 0.7 0.8 1.0 0.3 1.0 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.7 1.0 Z41 1.7 1.1 1.0 1.6 1.4 0.9 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.8 1.1 1.0 Z42 0.6 0.9 0.9 1.1 1.8 1.5 0.7 0.9 1.2 0.7 0.9 1.1 Z43 0.8 0.8 1.3 1.6 0.9 1.4 0.7 0.9 1.0 0.9 1.0 1.0 Z44 0.4 0.8 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.2 0.3 1.5 1.7 0.5 0.9 1.1 Z45 0.5 1.2 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.8 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.0 0.8 1.1 Z46 0.6 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.8 0.9 0.6 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.0 0.9 Z47 2.0 1.3 0.9 1.7 1.0 0.9 1.7 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.4 1.2 Z48 0.7 0.5 0.9 0.5 0.3 1.5 0.6 0.6 0.8 0.6 0.8 1.1 Z49 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.4 0.4 1.0 0.8 0.7 1.0 0.8 0.7 1.0 Z50 0.6 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.7 1.3 0.8 2.0 1.6 0.6 0.8 1.0 Z51 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.4 0.8 1.3 0.3 0.7 0.8 0.3 0.9 1.1 Z52 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.4 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.8 0.7 0.8 1.1 Z53 0.5 0.4 0.8 0.4 0.3 1.0 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.6 1.0

Compounds Z33 and Z34 were found to have particularly good activity:

Other useful compounds are Compound D28 and Compound F 1:

Compound D28 was tested in a cytokine release experiment—parent compound, dog's and human PMBC. Results are shown in FIGS. 21A-21D.

Compound Z17, previously mentioned above, was tested in a cytokine release experiment. Results are shown in FIGS. 22A and 22B.

Compound Z33, previously mentioned above, was tested in a cytokine release experiment. Results are shown in FIGS. 23A and 23B.

Another compound found to be useful is Compound E56:

FIG. 24 shows the results of testing done on Compound E56.

Additional compounds found to be useful are Compounds Z96 and Z97:

Results of testing done on compounds Z96 and Z97 are shown in Tables 18 and 19, respectively.

TABLE 18 NR2F6_full (stable, clone F4), cmpd/DMSO NR2F6_full (transient), cmpd/DMSO Firefly Renilla Firefly Renilla ID 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM Z96 2.6 2.6 2.9 1.2 1.2 1.3 2.4 2.3 2.4 0.9 1.0 1.0

TABLE 19 NR2F6_full (stable, clone F4), cmpd/DMSO NR2F6_full (transient), cmpd/DMSO Firefly Renilla Firefly Renilla ID 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM Z97 1.5 2.2 2.3 1.2 1.1 1.1 2.3 2.8 2.4 1.1 1.1 1.0

FIGS. 25A and 25B show further results of testing done on Compound Z96. FIGS. 26A and 26B show further results of testing done on Compound Z97.

Additional compounds found to be useful are Compounds Z93 and Z94:

The results of dogs PBMC cytotox for Compounds Z93 and Z94 are included in FIG. 19B, which also shows results for the following Compounds: Z92, E54, E55 and E53.

Additional compounds tested included the following:

Table 20 shows shows screening results from another set of compounds.

TABLE 20 Firefly Renilla ERalpha transient, ERalpha transient, Compound F4, cmpd/DMSO (mean) cmpd/DMSO (mean) F4, cmpd/DMSO (mean) cmpd/DMSO (mean) ID 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM 40 uM 10 uM 2 uM 26 1.3 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.3 1.0 0.7 0.7 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.9 27 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.2 1.2 1.2 0.8 0.9 0.9 1.2 1.1 1.1 28 0.6 0.9 1.2 0.6 0.5 1.0 0.6 0.8 1.1 0.7 0.8 1.2 29 1.5 1.4 0.9 2.2 1.7 1.2 0.8 0.9 0.8 1.1 1.0 1.1 30 1.8 1.6 1.5 1.3 1.5 1.1 3.4 2.3 1.2 1.0 1.2 1.2 31 0.9 1.0 0.8 1.0 1.2 0.8 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.0 32 0.8 1.3 0.8 0.7 1.2 1.2 1.0 1.4 1.2 1.1 1.3 1.2 33 1.1 1.0 0.8 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.1 1.2 34 0.9 0.8 0.9 1.2 1.2 1.1 0.9 1.1 0.9 1.1 1.1 1.0 35 0.8 1.0 1.1 1.3 0.9 1.0 0.9 0.9 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.0 36 0.9 0.6 1.3 0.4 0.8 1.1 0.5 0.8 1.2 0.3 1.1 1.2 37 1.3 1.1 1.3 1.2 1.4 1.1 1.3 1.2 0.9 1.1 1.1 1.1 38 0.7 0.8 1.2 0.5 0.9 0.8 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.2 39 0.9 0.9 1.1 0.9 0.6 0.9 1.0 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.1 40 0.8 1.0 0.9 0.7 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.2 41 0.9 0.9 0.8 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.2 42 0.9 0.8 1.6 1.0 1.0 2.3 1.1 0.8 0.7 1.0 1.0 0.9 43 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.1 44 0.7 1.5 1.3 0.5 1.3 1.5 0.3 1.1 1.1 0.3 1.2 1.3 45 0.7 1.2 3.2 0.6 1.6 1.8 0.2 0.8 1.6 0.2 0.8 1.6

After several rounds of testing, the following compounds were found to be particularly optimal.

Table 21 shows results of testing on Compound D28.

TABLE 21 Firefly, cmpd/DMSO Firefly, cmpd Firefly, DMSO Renilla, cmpd/DMSO Renilla, DMSO repeat repeat repeat repeat mean mean repeat repeat mean mean 1 2 mean 1 2 plate1 plate2 1 2 plate1 plate2 14.1 11.7 12.8 784 644 56 55 0.7 0.5 3237 2930

FIGS. 27A and 27B show NR2F6 and LBD transient transfection, respectively, for Compound D28. Higher concentrations were excluded due to lower signal (tox effect). FIGS. 27C and 27D show NR2F6 and LBD transient transfection at different concentrations for different compounds. 9 compounds were tested on LBD transfected cells (40, 10, 2 and 0.5 μM, 4 replicates). FIGS. 27E and 27F show toxicity of Compound D28. 9 compounds were tested for cytotoxicity on LBD transfected cells (40, 10, 2 and 0.5 μM, 4 replicates). Tox effect was found to cause lower signal compared to DMSO. Cytotoxicity normalized to DMSO is shown in FIG. 27F (0% cytotoxicity corresponds to DMSO signal, 100%—zero signal).

FIGS. 28A-D show the results of a cytokind release experiment for dog and human PBMC. All compounds were tested at 5, 10, 25 and 50 uM in duplicates.

Dog PBMC (1×106 cells/mL) were activated by 10 ng/mL PMA+500 ng/mL ionomycin. Data were normalized to controls with (100%) /without (0%) PMA+ionomycin activation.

In further embodiments, the present technology is directed to compounds of Formula (IX):

wherein R_(A) is C, H, N, O, S, a halogen, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, a cyclic alkyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an ester, an aldehyde, a ketone, a carboxylic acid, an amide, an amine, an ether, a thiol or a nitrile. For example, exemplary but non-limiting compounds are shown below:

In further embodiments, the present technology is directed to compounds of Formula (X):

wherein R_(B) is C, H, N, O, S, a halogen, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, a cyclic alkyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an ester, an aldehyde, a ketone, a carboxylic acid, an amide, an amine, an ether, a thiol or a nitrile. For example, exemplary but non-limiting compounds are shown below:

In further embodiments, the present technology is directed to compounds of Formula (XI):

wherein any of R₁-R₅ are C, H, N, O, S, a halogen, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, a cyclic alkyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an ester, an aldehyde, a ketone, a carboxylic acid, an amide, an amine, an ether, a thiol or a nitrile. For example, exemplary but non-limiting compounds are shown below:

In various other embodiments, the structure of the Compounds found to be useful have other variations. For example, in certain embodiments, the present technology is directed to compounds of Formula (XII):

wherein any of R₁ and R₈ is C, H, N, O, S, a halogen, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, a cyclic alkyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an ester, an aldehyde, a ketone, a carboxylic acid, an amide, an amine, an ether, or a thiol. Exemplary but non-limiting compounds are shown below:

FIGS. 29-32 show exemplary methods of formulating the compounds that have been discussed herein.

FIG. 31A shows an exemplary synthesis of compounds including the following: Compound Z17, Compound Z61, Compound Z19, Compound Z70, Compound Z71, Compound Z67, Compound Z76, Compound Z75, Compound Z78, Compound Z68, Compound Z27, Compound Z79, Compound Z64, Compound Z69, Compound Z74, Compound Z154, Compound Z80, Compound Z155, Compound Z156, Compound Z157, Compound Z158, Compound Z159.

Another compound developed herein, and found to have desirable activity, is Compound E21:

Table 22 shows results of testing on Compound E21.

TABLE 22 Firefly, cmpd/DMSO Firefly, cmpd Firefly, DMSO Renilla, cmpd/DMSO Renilla, DMSO repeat repeat repeat repeat mean mean repeat repeat mean mean 1 2 mean 1 2 plate1 plate2 1 2 plate1 plate2 9.5 5.6 7.3 526 306 56 55 0.6 0.8 3237 2930

FIG. 33A and 33B show NR2F6 and LBD transient transfection for Compound E21. Higher concentrations were excluded due to lower signal (tox) effect.

FIGS. 34A and 34B show NR2F6 LBD transient transfection for Compound E21. 9 compounds were tested on LBD transfected cells (40, 10, 2 and 0.5 μM, 4 replicates). FIGS. 34C and 34D show NR2F6 and LBD transient transfection at different concentrations for different compounds. 9 compounds were tested on LBD transfected cells (40, 10, 2 and 0.5 μM, 4 replicates). Tox effect was found to cause lower signal compared to DMSO. Cytotoxicity normalized to DMSO is shown in FIG. 34D (0% cytotoxicity corresponds to DMSO signal, 100%—zero signal). All compounds were tested at 5, 10, 25 and 50 uM in duplicates. Dog PBMC (1×106 cells/mL) were activated by 10 ng/mL PMA+500 ng/mL ionomycin. Data were normalized to controls with (100%)/without (0%) PMA+ionomycin activation.

As shown in FIG. 36, related compounds were generated from Compound E21 and tested for activity.

Additional related compounds found to have desirable activity include the following:

Table 23 shows the screening results of certain of the above compounds.

TABLE 23 Firefly NR2F6 full length, cmpd/DMSO (mean) F4, cmpd/DMSO (mean) Concentration, mM Compound ID 40 10 2 40 10 2 Screening Compound E4 1.0 1.0 1.1 0.8 0.9 0.9 Results Compound E8 0.9 1.2 1.2 0.7 1.0 1.0 Compound E10 1.1 1.5 1.3 0.8 1.0 1.1 Compound E15 1.1 0.8 1.2 0.8 1.1 1.3 Compound E57 0.9 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.0 Compound E24 1.1 1.1 1.0 0.7 0.9 1.0 Compound E41 0.9 1.0 1.1 0.4 0.7 0.9 Compound E52 1.4 1.3 1.0 0.7 0.9 0.7

Additional compounds synthesized and found to have desirable activity include the following:

FIG. 37 shows exemplary methods of formulating the compounds that have been discussed herein; specifically, exemplary synthesis of compounds including the following: Compound Z160, Compound Z161, Compound Z162, Compound Z163.

As discussed above, Compound F1 was of particular interest herein:

Table 24 shows results of testing on Compound F 1.

TABLE 24 Firefly, cmpd/DMSO Firefly, cmpd Firefly, DMSO Renilla, cmpd/DMSO Renilla, DMSO repeat repeat repeat repeat mean mean repeat repeat mean mean 1 2 mean 1 2 plate1 plate2 1 2 plate1 plate2 5.6 4.6 5.1 310 252 56 55 1.1 1.2 3237 2930

FIGS. 38A and 38B show NR2F6 and LBD transient transfection, respectively, for Compound F1.

FIGS. 39A and 39B show NR2F6 LBD transient transfection for Compound F1. 9 compounds were tested on LBD transfected cells (40, 10, 2 and 0.5 μM, 4 replicates). FIGS. 39C and 39D show toxicity of NR2F6 LBD transient transfection. 9 compounds were tested for cytotoxicity on LBD transfected cells (40, 10, 2 and 0.5 μM, 4 replicates). Tox effect causes lower signal compared to DMSO. Cytotoxicity normalized to DMSO is shown in FIG. 39D (0% cytotoxicity corresponds to DMSO signal, 100%—zero signal).

FIGS. 40A-D show the results of cytokine release experiment for dogs and human PBMC. All compounds were tested at 5, 10, 25 and 50 uM in duplicates.

Dog PBMC (1×106 cells/mL) were activated by 10 ng/mL PMA+500 ng/mL ionomycin. Data were normalized to controls with (100%)/without (0%) PMA+ionomycin activation.

FIG. 41 shows the general SAR strategy for testing Compound F1 and compounds related to it in structure. Formally, the active molecule was divided into four domains (Domains A through D). Each domain was evaluated independently to establish SAR trends. Combinations of optimized domains evaluated additive or synergistic effect. 4 related analogs were available.

For example, compounds were tested with varying values of Domain A. Exemplary compounds found to be useful are listed as follows:

In certain embodiments, a compound herein has Formula (XIII):

wherein n is an integer 1, 2, or 3, and R is any other moiety mentioned in the present disclosure (e.g., C, H, N, O, S, a halogen, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, a cyclic alkyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an ester, an aldehyde, a ketone, a carboxylic acid, an amide, an amine, an ether, a thiol or a nitrile).

Similarly, compounds were tested with varying values of Domain C. Exemplary compounds found to be useful are listed as follows:

In certain embodiments, a compound herein has Formula (XIV):

wherein X is C, H, N, O, S, a halogen, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, a cyclic alkyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an ester, an aldehyde, a ketone, a carboxylic acid, an amide, an amine, an ether, a thiol, a nitrile or any other moiety mentioned herein.

In other embodiments, the present technology is directed to compounds comprising a boronate, and synthesis of such compounds. For example, FIG. 42 shows an exemplary synthesis of a boronate compound. In various embodiments, the synthesis achieved a yield of at least about 95%, at least about 90% and at least about 85%; with at least about 85% purity. In various embodiments, a regioisomer was present in the yield, in amounts of about 10 to about 20%, or about 12 to about 18%. In various embodiments, the regioisomers could be separated.

FIG. 42 shows the results of other exemplary syntheses of compounds comprising boronate, and the relative proportions of resultant compounds.

Another compound found to have good activity is Compound P1:

Table 25 shows results of testing on Compound P 1.

TABLE 25 Firefly, cmpd/DMSO Firefly, cmpd Firefly, DMSO Renilla, cmpd/DMSO Renilla, DMSO repeat repeat repeat repeat mean mean repeat repeat mean mean 1 2 mean 1 2 plate1 plate2 1 2 plate1 plate2 4.0 3.0 3.5 236 166 59 56 1.0 0.9 3030 3118

FIGS. 44A and 44B show NRdF6 and LBD transient transfection of Compound P 1.

FIGS. 45A-D show NR2F6 LBD transient transfection for 9 different compounds, including Compound P1.

FIGS. 46A and 46B show the results of the cytokine release experiment with dogs PBMC.

FIGS. 47A and 47B show NR2F6 agonist activity and NR2F6 agonist activity (Renilla signal) for 7 compounds along with a DMSO control. The conclusion is that Compound Z92 shown similar slight activity (˜3 times firefly signal over DMSO level) at 10 uM and 50 uM. Compound E53 increases firefly activity in 6 times at 10 uM and appeared to show strong cytotox effect (great decreasing both renilla and firefly activity). Both Compounds Z92 and E53 will be tested on greater concentration range for confirmation on both cell line with double stable transfection (clone F1-pGL4) and cell line with transient transfection.

In certain embodiments, the present technology is directed to compounds of Formula (XV):

wherein R is C, H, N, O, S, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, a cyclic alkyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an ester, an aldehyde, a ketone, a carboxylic acid, an amide, an amine, an ether, a thiol or a nitrile. In certain embodiments, R is H or an alkyl group.

In certain embodiments, the present technology is directed to compounds of Formula (XVI):

wherein any of R1 and R2 are C, H, N, O, S, a halogen, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, a cyclic alkyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an ester, an aldehyde, a ketone, a carboxylic acid, an amide, an amine, an ether, a thiol or a nitrile. In ertain embodiments, either or both of R1 and R2 are H, alkyl, phenyl, piperidine, or pyrrolidine.

Exemplary compounds include the following:

Table 26 shows activity results for two exemplary compounds, Compound Z95 and Compound Z113.

TABLE 26 Firefly, cmpd/DMSO (mean) F4, cmpd/DMSO (mean) Concentration ID 40 10 2 40 10 2 Z95 2.3 1.3 1.2 3.7 2.2 1.2 Z113 0.9 1.1 1.3 1.2 1.5 1.2

FIGS. 48-51 show embodiments of a synthetic methods of formulating a compound according to the present technology.

Further compounds found to have good activity include the following:

FIGS. 52-55 illustrate syntheses of various compounds discussed herein.

FIGS. 56A and 56B show HTS activity confirmation for various compounds. Compound E53 shown similar slight activity (˜3 times firefly signal over DMSO level) at 10 uM and 50 uM. 8010-3060 increase firefly activity in 6 times at 10 uM and It seems it shown strong cytotox effect (great decreasing both renilla and firefly activity). Both Compound Z92 and Compound E53 will be further tested on greater concentration range for confirmation on both cell line with double stable transfection (clone F 1-pGL4) and cell line with transient transfection.

Further compounds found to have good activity include the following:

FIGS. 57 and 58 show syntheses of exemplary compositions found to be useful.

Table 27 shows the activity of various compounds discussed herein.

TABLE 27 Firefly, Renilla, cmpd/DMSO cmpd/DMSO ID (mean) (mean) Z134 1.1 0.9 Z135 1.0 1.0 Z152 1.6 1.0 Z153 2.0 1.1 Z150 1.0 0.9 Z151 1.1 1.0 Z149 1.5 1.0 Z139 1.5 1.1 Z140 1.2 1.0 Z141 1.8 0.9 Z142 1.1 0.9 Z97 2.1 1.0 Z113 1.0 0.9

The present technology is directed to a composition according to any of the compounds decscribed herein, substantially free of impurities. As used herein, the term “substantially free of impurities” means that the compound contains no significant amount of extraneous matter, including starting materials, residual solvents, or any other impurities that may result from the preparation or isolation of the compounds herein. In various embodiments, at least about 95%, at least about 97% or at least about 98% by weight of a compound herein is present in a dosage form herein.

Although the present technology has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, these embodiments and examples are merely exemplary and not intended to be limiting. Many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. The present technology should, therefore, not be limited by the specific disclosure herein, and can be embodied in other forms not explicitly described here, without departing from the spirit thereof 

We claim:
 1. A compound having a structure of any of Formulas (Ia) through (XVI), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof

wherein any of R, RA, RB, R1-R8, X, Q, Q1, Q2 and A is: C, H, N, O, S, a halogen, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, a cyclic alkyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an ester, an aldehyde, a ketone, a carboxylic acid, and amide, an amine, an ether, a thiol or a nitrile; and wherein n is an integer 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or
 6. 2. A solid form of a compound of claim
 1. 3. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the solid form of a compound of claim 1, with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.
 4. A method of increasing activity of a cell, comprising contacting a composition of claim 1 with the cell.
 5. A method of reducing the size of a tumor, comprising administering a compound of claim 1 to the tumor.
 6. The method of claim 5, comprising the steps of: (a) extracting an amount of a patient's cellular material; (b) isolating immune cells from the cellular material; (c) activating the NR2F6 target in the isolated immune cells by binding them with a compound of claim 1; and (d) re-administering the isolated immune cells to the patient's body.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the patient's cellular material is blood.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the re-administering step comprises injection of the immune cells into the patient's body.
 9. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 3, in an oral dosage form.
 10. A method of treating or reducing the effect of a reaction, disease or disorder, the method comprising activating the NR2F6 target in immune cells by contacting them with a compound of claim
 1. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the reaction, disease or disorder comprises an autoimmune response.
 12. A method of treating a disorder comprising administering to a subject an effective amount of a compound of claim 1 or a composition thereof.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the subject is a human.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the disorder is cancer. 